- Organisation supported: Northern Rescue Helicopter Limited (NRHL)
- Project details: Purchasing a new state-of-the-art Hamilton T1 ventilator
- Four Winds Foundation grant funding allocated: $53,000
Northern Rescue Helicopter Limited (NRHL) has received a major boost to its life-saving operations thanks to a generous donation from the Four Winds Foundation, which has funded the purchase of a new state-of-the-art Hamilton T1 ventilator, valued at $53,000.
With the current fleet of ventilators nearing the end of their operational life after nearly eight years of service, the donation comes at a vital time.
“Our existing ventilators have served us incredibly well, supporting hundreds of critically ill and injured patients since their introduction,” says Ross Aitken, Auckland-based Clinical Operations Manager and Critical Care Paramedic at Northern Rescue.
“But prehospital ventilator technology has evolved significantly, as has the scope of the care our teams provide.”
As patient numbers and complexity increase – particularly during interhospital transfers, which now make up a substantial part of NRHL’s workload – the need for more advanced mechanical ventilators has become pressing.
“The demands of modern critical care mean we need equipment that can meet increasingly complex clinical needs,” adds Paul Davis, Critical Care Paramedic and Deputy Clinical Operations Manager in Whangārei.
“Advanced devices like the Hamilton T1 are essential for these high-acuity missions.”
Designed for both in-hospital and prehospital environments, the Hamilton T1 brings numerous advantages.
“It enables the delivery of ICU-level ventilator strategies in-flight, with improved battery performance, oxygen efficiency, and a user-friendly interface that enhances clinical safety,” Aitken explains.
To ensure consistent, high-quality care across its operations, NRHL ultimately requires six Hamilton T1 ventilators for use across its rescue helicopters and rapid response vehicles based in Ardmore and Whangārei.
Patients requiring mechanical ventilation are among the most critically unwell ranging from those in respiratory failure due to chronic illness, to trauma patients with multiple severe injuries including head trauma.
“These ventilators enable our clinicians to stabilise patients and transport them safely and expediently to definitive care centres,” says Davis.
Mechanical ventilators are used by NRHL clinicians two to three times per week on average, totalling several hundred uses each year. Their role is vital in minimising secondary complications during transport, which can arise from the progression of a patient’s underlying condition.
“These are complex and costly pieces of medical equipment,” Aitken and Davis note.
“The support of Four Winds Foundation has had a direct and meaningful impact on our service, helping us continue our mission of delivering safe, high-quality critical care to those who need it most.”
