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Hercules to transfer baby twins Hercules waits to transfer twins
(30 minutes later)
An RAF Hercules aircraft has been sent to transfer twins born prematurely on a Scottish island to a mainland hospital. An RAF Hercules aircraft is poised to transfer twins born prematurely on a Scottish island to a mainland hospital.
The Scottish Ambulance Service said the mother went into labour at 27 weeks and gave birth in Stornoway Hospital on the Isle of Lewis on Sunday night.The Scottish Ambulance Service said the mother went into labour at 27 weeks and gave birth in Stornoway Hospital on the Isle of Lewis on Sunday night.
Medical experts flown in by a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter have been helping to stabilise the babies. Medical experts flown in by a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter have been working to stabilise the babies whose condition is described as "very poor".
The Hercules was drafted in because of snow and high winds and is due to fly the twins to a hospital in Glasgow. The Hercules is on standby to fly the twins to a Glasgow maternity hospital.
The condition of the babies and their mother is not known. The Ministry of Defence confirmed the aircraft was drafted in because snow and high winds made the transfer to Glasgow too dangerous for an air ambulance.
Medical emergencyMedical emergency
According to the Scottish Ambulance Service the woman gave birth at the Western Isles Hospital late on Sunday night. A spokesman for the ambulance service said they were looking to make an "immediate transfer to Glasgow" due to the poor condition of the babies.
Consultants based at the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital in Glasgow were flown out to Stornoway by a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter.
Because of forecasts of snow and high winds we didn't feel it was safe to fly to the mainland Scottish Ambulance Service spokesman
They have been working to stabilise the twins since their arrival late on Sunday.
According to the Scottish Ambulance Service the woman gave birth at the Western Isles Hospital.
A spokesman said: "We received a call at about 6.30pm last night that a 27 weeks pregnant female was having a twin birth.A spokesman said: "We received a call at about 6.30pm last night that a 27 weeks pregnant female was having a twin birth.
"It is my understanding that the twins were born late last night, but we don't know what their condition is." "It is my understanding that the twins were born late last night."
He said a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter carrying medical staff and incubators had landed earlier at Stornoway to help stabilise the twins. He said a Sea King helicopter carrying medical staff and incubators had landed earlier at Stornoway to help stabilise the twins.
"We sent two consultants to Stornoway in the Sea King. But because of forecasts of snow and high winds we didn't feel it was safe to fly to the mainland."We sent two consultants to Stornoway in the Sea King. But because of forecasts of snow and high winds we didn't feel it was safe to fly to the mainland.
He added: "The plan is to go to the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital (in Glasgow) in the Hercules."He added: "The plan is to go to the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital (in Glasgow) in the Hercules."
The Ministry of Defence confirmed that a Hercules had been scrambled to Stornoway "to assist in a medical emergency".
Duty HerculesDuty Hercules
The aircraft was called in when severe weather conditions made the transfer to a maternity hospital in Glasgow too dangerous for an air ambulance. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that a Hercules had been scrambled to Stornoway "to assist in a medical emergency".
It arrived shortly after 0230 GMT and has been on standby for the transfer flight.
Michael Mulford from RAF Kinloss said the weather in the Hebrides was very wild and windy.Michael Mulford from RAF Kinloss said the weather in the Hebrides was very wild and windy.
Speaking about the medical evacuation he said: "The normal way of evacuating two babies would be to put them in an air ambulance, a fixed wing. But I think the wind is just beyond the margin so what we did was, we got the duty Hercules to fly up from Lyneham."Speaking about the medical evacuation he said: "The normal way of evacuating two babies would be to put them in an air ambulance, a fixed wing. But I think the wind is just beyond the margin so what we did was, we got the duty Hercules to fly up from Lyneham."
Hercules aircraft have been used several times in recent years for baby transfers but it is though to be the first time that twins will be involved in a flight of this kind.Hercules aircraft have been used several times in recent years for baby transfers but it is though to be the first time that twins will be involved in a flight of this kind.