STAFF at St Mary's Hospital explored the air ambulance today (Thursday) for a special training programme. 
The helicopter and its crew visited the hospital to help staff become more familiar with the set up and procedures. 
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance's critical care team also delivered lectures on the safe handling of transfers from St Mary’s Hospital to the mainland.
Air ambulance chief executive, Alex Lochrane, said: “The air ambulance provides a life line to the Isle of Wight and it is important that we are constantly seeking to enhance awareness of the service that we provide and our standard operating procedures for transfers to and from the Isle of Wight.
“Our training programmes allow us to remain at the forefront of pre-hospital medical care, constantly improving the service that we provide to our community and we intend that this forward-based training and familiarisation day becomes a regular quarterly event.”