Ambulance Victoria’s Brad Martin said patients previously had to be flown to Bendigo airport and transferred to the city’s public hospital via road ambulance.

“Being able to now fly directly to the helipad, we would now be saving 30 minutes at least in delivering these patients to the care they require,” he said.

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He said air ambulances had made four deliveries to the helipad at Bendigo Health from the region, most of whom were heart attack patients in need of further cardiac intervention.

A total of 11 patients were flown from Bendigo to facilities in Melbourne, Mr Martin said, most of which required specialised care including neonatal and paediatric patients and significant trauma patients.

“On average we’re looking at about three visits a week, two and from the hospital,” he said.

“Our projections have pretty much turned out to be the case.”

It had been estimated there would be two to three transfers from the Bendigo Health helipad per week.

Bendigo Health’s chief nursing and midwifery officer, David Rosaia, said the health care group had been able to provide more urgent treatment for patients across the Loddon Mallee region with access to the helipad and working with Ambulance Victoria.

“This has impacted services at Bendigo Health including the Emergency Department, cath lab, Intensive Care Unit, theatres and birthing and special baby care services,” he said.

“We planned for this and are continually working to ensure we have the workforce and skills to meet this new demand.”

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Bendigo is one of four cities where air ambulances are based, statewide.

Others include Warrnambool, Traralgon and Melbourne.

Mr Martin, who is the acting HEMS 3 team manager in Bendigo, said the air ambulance based in Bendigo was primarily used for inter-hospital transfers and trauma patient retrieval.

The helipad at Bendigo Health has been operational since June 27.

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