Defence ministry to stop hospital transport for sick islanders

The defence ministry is to stop providing helicopter hospital transfers for people living on the Wadden Sea islands, defence ministry Jeanine Hennis told parliament on Wednesday.

The three helicopters used to ferry islanders and tourists who need emergency attention are to be sold off, the minister said.

The defence ministry has run the service for the past 37 years, but it is not a key function, Hennis said in her briefing. However, the service will not be scrapped until the health ministry has come up with a suitable alternative.

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