. Accident victims
. Newborn babies who are ill or premature and with low birth weight. They need very careful handling if they are to survive and be without long term disability. They need specialist units and minimum transport complications.
. Extremely ill infants they need to be transferred "require specialised back up and treatment en-route [to special units], and it is generally accepted by specialists that such infants are better transferred by specially equipped helicopter," the steering committee report says.
. Heart attack victims. In cases of heart attack, "it is not possible to administer proper cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CHR) in a moving ambulance rough terrain or on bad roads. A HEMS helicopters would greatly enhance the chances of survival in such cases," the steering committee report says
. Critically ill patients, who may be retrieved quickly from remote areas.
Victims of head injuries and spinal injuries and, again, heart attacks who can be brought straight to the national centres which can best treat them, instead of first to the county hospital.