The wait for help from Tasmania's rescue helicopter service is set to be dramatically cut, thanks to a $10 million injection into the emergency service.
The reinvigorated service, which is due to roll out early next year, will see two current search and rescue helicopters converted into "flying emergency departments", utilising specially trained medical professionals based at Hobart Airport.
The teams of six will comprise intensive care doctors and anaesthetists, partnered with specially trained paramedics.
Currently, the two helicopters are only equipped for patient retrieval and rescue, but from February will have the capability to provide high-acuity care.
It is a move that is expected to cut response times from an average of 52 minutes to just 10, according to project lead and manager of Aeromedical and Retrieval Garry White.
"We will come in line with the national average, which is now at about 10 minutes," he said.
"Utilising this service, we can rescue the patient, deliver that high level of care at the scene, and then bring them back to the most appropriate centre rather than just the closest one."
He said "never in Tasmania" has it been possible to "deliver this high level of high-acuity care to the Tasmanian public", describing it as a first for the state.
Senior medical specialist Simon Brown has been training others who will now work alongside dedicated flight paramedics in remote rescue situations.
"It takes a lot of practice and even the smallest things can stuff you up. So unless you've practiced, then it doesn't always work well in real life," Professor Brown said.
"All it takes is one problem, if you can't get IV access, what do you do? If you have problems with the airway? If the sunlight is in the way? You can find yourself with big problems if you haven't worked as a team before."
Speed key to saving lives
Professor Brown said when "things go wrong in a pre-hospital environment, it's hard to pick up the pieces".
Health Minister Michael Ferguson said the new service would "save lives".
"Perhaps up to nine per year, lives that would have ordinarily been lost due to the delays in transfer," he said.
The ability to treat patients in the air rather than simply transport them from a remote location to a hospital could also decrease some of the burden on the state's medical centres, Mr Ferguson said.
"They're like flying emergency departments. They'll quickly get in the air, quickly get where the patient is, quickly bring them back to the Royal Hobart Hospital where their life can be saved."
The state's four major hospitals will be connected to the service, with helipads being constructed at each.
Another 30 specialist medical staff are expected to be recruited to staff the new service.
