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Somerset County Herald and Taunton Courier. Saturday 19 Oct 1957
Page 1 Column 4
Helicopter Ambulances
Musgrove Hospital Decision
When road ambulances cannot be used for weather reasons, helicopters from the R.A.F. Chivenor, North Devon, will be used to fly-in emergency patients to Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton.
A spokesman at the hospital said on Tuesday that the helicopters would only be used if conditions prevented ambulances from reaching patients in outlying districts such as Exmoor.
Conditions for landings at the hospital were described as “ideal” by Flt.-Lieut. FRANCIS after he had brought a helicopter down into the hospital grounds on Tuesday. He met officials to discuss the use of helicopters.
The landing on Tuesday was arranged for 10 a.m., but thick fog delayed it until 2.45 p.m. The crew stayed at the hospital for an hour and their take-off was watched by officials, nurses and schoolchildren. A member of the crew took photographs so that the site could be pin-pointed for map reference.