A Baradine resident has expressed her gratitude and appreciation for a volunteer medical transportation service that send pilots to small communities on a rescue mission.

For more than thirty-five years Tracy Keegan has suffered from the inflammatory disorder Sarcoidosis, a condition that affects immune response and requires medical treatment that cannot be provided locally.

Because of her condition, Tracy was advised not to drive to Sydney for medical appointments, so she was delighted when her service provider, Australian Unity organised an Angel Flight for her.

 “Angel Flight organised the return flight, booked accommodation and even pick-up from the airport without any cost to me; you can’t get any better than that,” Tracy said.

“Many people do not realise this amazing assistance is available and I want to shine a light on Angel Flight. All you need is a doctor referral and be mobile enough to climb into the aircraft.

“It is a door-to-door service and invaluable to someone living in an isolated community like me who needs medical treatment in Sydney.” 

Angel Flight is a charity that coordinates non-emergency flights to help country people trying to deal with the triple trouble of bad health, poor finances and daunting distance. All flights are free and may involve patients travelling to medical facilities anywhere in Australia.

Angel Flight pilots do not carry aeromedical staff or medical equipment so do not act as an alternative to the Royal Flying Doctor Service or Air Ambulance.

Volunteer Angel Flight pilot, Darrell Campbell flew from Sydney into Baradine to collect Tracy.

“This is mission number 311 for me; I have been flying all over Australia taking people who need to have medical treatment in the city for ten years,” Darryl said.

“Angel Flight pays one third of my fuel cost and everything else is donated by me. I have the time to do this and I love flying and this was an opportunity to do something to help other people.

“More than 3,000 pilots throughout the country volunteer their time and aircraft to make it easier for people living in rural areas to access the medical treatment they need; it is one less thing the patient has to worry about.”

Since 2018 there have been thirty-nine Angel Flights in and out of Baradine and more than 52,000 flights completed Australia wide. There are 4,880 volunteer Earth Angels (drivers) registered and 5,019 health professionals/referrers.

Angel Flight CEO, Marjorie Pagani says Angel Flight was created to meet a real need to fly passengers who need the help for medical or financial reasons to receive the medical care that they can’t get in their home town.

“All flights are completely free and we can help passengers of all ages with our volunteer pilots in their own aircraft who donate their time and flying skills to help others,” Ms Pagani said.

“Help is never far away with Angel Flight, so help us help those who are often overlooked by the system and provide the help where help is needed.”