Intensive Care in the Air

King Air 350 becomes air ambulance for Starship Children’s Hospital

Almost 25 years ago, New Zealand’s Starship Children’s Hospital was launched as “a culmination of a dream, determination and commitment of a few visionary individuals” who saw the need for a specialist children’s hospital that would provide world-class care to the children of the country. Before Starship’s hospital in Auckland was opened, the children of New Zealand were treated at Princess Mary Hospital, a collection of buildings that were built for temporary use during World War II and had become debilitated.

In 2014, over 27,000 children were patients at Starship Children’s Hospital; 56 percent of them being under the age of six. Looking at the numbers another way, there were 48,494 in-patients admitted, 32,594 visits to the hospital’s emergency room and 66,402 outpatient clinic attendances.

Funding Care for Young Patients

Supporting the hospital is the Starship Foundation, a social-profit organization that raises funds so Starship Children’s Hospital can better care for its young patients. Donations provided by the foundation are extra to government funding that the hospital receives. Through the huge generosity of corporations, individuals, community groups, trusts and foundations, in 2014 more than NZ$6.5 million from the Foundation funded a range of initiatives, including hospital equipment and projects, refurbishments, pediatric research and professional development, play therapy and comfort items, and community and family support.

The Starship Foundation provides NZ$1.5 million annually to help fund the Starship National Air Ambulance Service, which brings children from all over New Zealand to the hospital to receive the life-saving care that they need. This amount is a subsidy to the full cost of the ambulance service, which is also covered by relevant district health boards in the country; there is no cost to the patient. The air ambulance flies a dedicated retrieval team that specializes in the care of children. Issues the patients are experiencing vary from complications arising from normal childhood illnesses such as the flu to accidents (drowning, car crashes, sporting injuries), as well as children suffering from heart conditions, seizures and meningitis. A retrieval team is on standby at all times and helps stabilize the children where necessary, then brings them back to Starship’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit where they can receive the care they need.

Providing Intensive Care in the Air

The Starship National Air Ambulance Service is operated by Skyline Aviation, a privately owned, New Zealand family business led by directors Mike and Annabel Toogood. As the largest aeromedical operator in New Zealand with over 25 years of experience, Skyline owns the aircraft, holds the aircraft operating certificate, employs specialist aeromedical pilots, and manages the fleet’s maintenance. Through its sister company, New Zealand Air Ambulance, it provides mission coordination 24 hours a day, seven days a week for this life-saving service. In a typical three-month period, the Starship National Air Ambulance will take approximately 65 flights to various locations throughout the country, some being 1,000 miles away.

“It is a privilege to be working alongside the wonderful Starship Children’s Hospital clinical teams, helping to look after the most vulnerable and precious members of our community, our babies, children and young people,” said Mike Toogood, managing director, Skyline Aviation.

King Air Fits the Mission

Recently, Skyline replaced its Fairchild Metroliner, the previous aircraft operated for the Starship National Air Ambulance Service, with a 2001 King Air 350 that was purchased in the United States and then taken to Elliott Aviation for new paint; partial interior refurbishment, including installation of LifePort medical stretchers; and new Garmin 1000 avionics.

“The King Air 350 was selected because it represents the leading edge of turboprop aircraft performance and technology,” Mike Toogood said. “It provides the highest speeds, longest range, quietest cabin and greatest reliability and safety of any turboprop aircraft in its class, and its interior cabin size is perfect for the medical stretchers and equipment needed. By adding the Garmin 1000 avionics, it allows the team to fly in most weather conditions across New Zealand and into the South Pacific. This is vital in ensuring we can reach children in need.”

Skyline also took advantage of having a new paint scheme added to the King Air to coordinate with the décor at the hospital and more geared to children. “The high-tech equipment on board the air ambulance is a mobile intensive care unit with full life-support capabilities. However, we shouldn’t underestimate the value of having a more child-friendly aircraft on the outside either, as this can help reduce anxiety for the patient and their family at a very stressful time,” said John Beca, clinical director of Starship’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

This paint scheme and the purpose of the aircraft turned personal for the Elliott Aviation team who worked on Starship’s air ambulance King Air, many of them having children of their own. They decided to take a collection to donate to the Starship Foundation and raised $1,400, which was presented at the time of delivery.

To support Starship’s National Air Ambulance, visit www.starship.org.
nz/airambulance.