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Air ambulance 'not needed in NI' Air charity spends £500K on admin
(10 minutes later)
There is no real need for an air ambulance in Northern Ireland, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has said. It has emerged that 90% of the £194,000 donated to the Ireland Air Ambulance charity in its first year went on staff wages and overheads.
Mr McGimpsey said he did not know why a charity is collecting money to bring an air ambulance to the region. So far the Ireland Air Ambulance charity, launched in 2007, has raised £700,000 from public donations.
So far the Ireland Air Ambulance charity has raised £700,000 from public donations.
It has emerged that 90% of the £194,000 donated to the helicopter charity in its first year went on staff wages and overheads.
More than £500,000 of the money raised so far has gone on wages and administration.More than £500,000 of the money raised so far has gone on wages and administration.
Mr McGimpsey questioned the need for an air ambulance. Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has said there was no real need for an air ambulance for the region.
"Frankly I am bemused that this is progressing the way it is progressing," he said."Frankly I am bemused that this is progressing the way it is progressing," he said.
"We are collecting money for an ambulance helicopter that, as far as I am aware there has been no order placed for, there has been no understanding created for and actually, when I look hard at it, there is no real need for it.""We are collecting money for an ambulance helicopter that, as far as I am aware there has been no order placed for, there has been no understanding created for and actually, when I look hard at it, there is no real need for it."
The charity said that it plans to bring a helicopter to Northern Ireland irrespective of whether or not it has agreements in place with the Department of Health or the Ambulance Service over deployment.The charity said that it plans to bring a helicopter to Northern Ireland irrespective of whether or not it has agreements in place with the Department of Health or the Ambulance Service over deployment.