USVI company pitches helicopter medical services for sister islands
A company based in the US Virgin Islands has expressed interest in offering helicopter services to assist with medical emergencies in the British Virgin Islands’ sister islands.
Health and Social Development Minister Vincent Wheatley said he recently held preliminary discussions with the company’s founders, who are aiming to ease long-standing challenges faced by residents in remote communities.
“The company is from St. Thomas and they said they wanted to give us an opportunity to partner and deliver helicopter services, particularly for our sister islands,” Wheatley said during the Talking Points radio show. “It’s very promising. They’re starting in St. Thomas later this year, so they’re doing research and feasibility to see what’s possible.”
Wheatley stressed that no firm decisions have been made but welcomed the initial engagement.
“I really appreciated the company coming over and sitting with us to let us know what they’re thinking of. It’s round one of several rounds, because accessibility to healthcare is a right,” he stated.
Residents of the sister islands—particularly Virgin Gorda and Anegada—have long voiced concern about the lack of timely emergency transport. Virgin Gorda residents have previously requested helicopter services, but were told such services would be too costly for the government to provide.
Meanwhile, residents of Anegada have advocated for a medical-equipped vessel to transport patients to the Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital on Tortola. However, that proposal was ruled out earlier this year, with Wheatley stating the government had been advised that upgrading the island’s medical clinics would be a more practical and cost-effective solution.
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What happen to the air ambulance service in the bvi? I think it’s called masa.
Are you an ediot?
It would be a helicopter for sister islands
Masa is a company /like insurance you pay for
Comes out of Miami/puerto Rico
In an emergency, the helicopter comes out of St Thomas for someone needing urgent care in anegada or virgin gorda for example
upgrading the island medical facilities? are you going to build a trauma centre on Anegada? Thats a joke, there are 3 qualified pilots that live on Anegada that I know of , all local , all the government need to do is outfit a small plane and keep them all upto date certified and then they cn fly the plane any time, day or night. But hey no lets give million dollar contracts to someone from the USA
Where the premier born again?
Suggest you check your facts. The people of the company are UK born, US based.
They are good people. It is impossible to do what you suggest.
Imagine we had our own decades ago
Smh forever backwards
Money for everything else
A for Anegada and Air ambulance
V for Virgin Gorda and Vessel ambulance
We need this bad. Good luck to them.