The service’s chairman, Cliff Marsh, thanked the Minister for Health, Jillian Skinner, for the contract extension, which he said was finalised on Friday afternoon.

‘‘We welcome this vote of confidence by the minister in our continued provision of support and service to the community,’’ Mr Marsh said.

‘‘But we are also aware that she, the department and the ambulance service want to continue to increase the standard of aero-medical services.

‘‘We have adopted a business plan to keep us at the front of aero-medical delivery, with continued aircraft upgrades, pilot training and close professional work with others in the health care chain, particularly our medical and ambulance colleagues.’’

Helicopter general manager Richard Jones said the service was waiting for the government to release its long-awaited response to a review of the state’s aero-medical services.

That review was likely to determine the new areas of operation for helicopter rescue services, and the Broadmeadow-based Westpac chopper was likely to have to tender against big international rivals to keep the Hunter contract long-term. The tender was expected well before the finish of the contract that had just been extended.

Mr Jones said the Hunter service was still fighting for the funding to have a doctor on all of its emergency flights, as was the case for helicopters in Sydney, Wollongong and Orange.  The absence of a doctor on Hunter Westpac flights became an issue this year when ambulance dispatchers began sending helicopters from Sydney and Wollongong to Hunter emergencies, even though the Hunter chopper was available.

 The Newcastle Herald  had been unable to get a comment last night  from the government on the contract extension.