Sussex Air Ambulance has joined forces with Sussex Police and South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust to provide the cover.

A paramedic will be available when the police helicopter, based at Shoreham Airport, is called out to deal with emergencies in Sussex, Kent and Surrey.

The new service will operate until 1.30am every day.

If it is successful it will be extended so a specialist doctor is provided on board.

David Philpott, chief executive of Sussex Air Ambulance, said: "We have for sometime been working alongside the police helicopter based at Shoreham in daylight hours, with both our helicopters being available in the county and used according to the need.

"This new partnership brings us a step closer to being able to offer an enhanced helicopter emergency medical service to the people of Sussex during the hours of darkness as well as during the day.

"If it is successful the charity will move towards putting a specialist doctor on board and this will save even more lives."

Hotel 900, the police helicopter has been flying in Sussex since 1987.
South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust has funded, and will continue to fund a paramedic on board the helicopter.

Assistant chief constable of Sussex Police, Jeremy Paine, said: "The successful partnership we have enjoyed with South East Coast Ambulance service over a number of years means that we are happy to extend our involvement in the life saving work that this collaboration supports.

"As an emergency service we understand too well the difference timely medical help can make to a severely injured person.

"This collaboration allows us to invest further in our helicopter so it can support future police operations in Sussex, as well as providing night time air cover in a medical emergency."