Lotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe (Polish Medical Air Rescue)

Lotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe, also called LPR or the Polish Medical Air Rescue, is the national air ambulance service of Poland. It is based in Warsaw. It flies helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.

Services

LPR flies emergency helicopter missions. It also arranges transfers of patients between hospitals, and has a separate commercial transport service. Its website has pages for doctors who request transport, for medical dispatchers, for rescue units and for patients and families. It also covers burns and organ replantation transport.

Aircraft and bases

The fleet includes Airbus EC135 and H135 helicopters, a Piaggio P.180 Avanti and two Learjet 75 Liberty jets. The aircraft base has been at the military part of Warsaw Okecie airport since 2009. LPR says it has bases across Poland, and some work around the clock while others work set hours.

Who it is for

LPR says its aim is to bring care to everyone who needs it in the shortest possible time, and to treat every patient without discrimination.

LPR says its helicopters fly about 12,000 missions a year, and almost 90 percent of them are emergency helicopter flights. The jets and the Piaggio aircraft cover longer transfers. The site also lists smaller aircraft types in its register, including the Tecnam P2008JC and the Robinson R44. Since June 2024 the director has been Dr Marcin Podgorski.

Facts

• A medical aviation service was set up in Poland in 1955 by the health ministry
• The current organisation took over the regional air ambulance teams on 15 January 2001
• It is a public healthcare institution
• Member of the European HEMS and Air Ambulance Committee (EHAC)
• Head office and operations centre in Warsaw