A WESTPAC Rescue Helicopter will be based in Western NSW as part of the NSW Ambulance's COVID-19 response plan.
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The helicopter arrived in Dubbo on Monday, and was sent out on its first job around midday on Tuesday.
![ADDITIONAL RESOURCE: The surge helicopter, pictured with Dr Brian Burns, Mike de Winton, Michael Legge and Matt Moore will be based in Dubbo. Photo: CONTRIBUTED ADDITIONAL RESOURCE: The surge helicopter, pictured with Dr Brian Burns, Mike de Winton, Michael Legge and Matt Moore will be based in Dubbo. Photo: CONTRIBUTED](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/9nQYdrBHQxDB6mMpJRZdp8/ac947773-4bf3-426e-9581-664c61529893.jpg/r0_0_1987_764_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan said in response to the evolving situation NSW Ambulance had "surged our workforce and resources to have more paramedics, call-takers, ambulances, fixed wing aircraft and now helicopters available to respond to the community."
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The helicopter will initially be based in the Dubbo area which means it is ideally situated to respond to anticipated inter-facility transfer demand from remote regional communities in the state.
"Often it's our pre-hospital emergency flights that are the most visible and therefore the best known missions that we fly, but Inter Hospital Transfers can often make a life-saving difference as well," Mr Jones said.
The helicopter will be leased by NSW Ambulance until mid-December.