NSW Department of Health is responsible for ensuring that the people of NSW are provided with the best possible health care. The Department monitors the performance of the NSW public health system and supports the statutory role of the NSW Minister for Health.

Public health organisations include:

• 8 Area Health Services
• Ambulance Service of NSW
• Justice Health
• Clinical Excellence Commission

The Helicopter Service operates under a contract with NSW Department of Health that covers the transport of pre-hospital and inter-hospital patient transfers. This contract is administered by the Ambulance Service of NSW.

The Ambulance Service of NSW is one of the largest ambulance services in the world. The Service provides pre-hospital emergency care and health related transport services to over 6.2 million people.

In 2004/2005 the Service attended to more than 656,000 emergency cases and travelled more than 18 million kilometres servicing the communities of NSW.

The partnership between the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service and Ambulance Service has existed since 1980.  

Hospitals

The Hunter based helicopters transport the majority of patients to the John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, whilst the Tamworth based helicopter transports the majority of patients to the Tamworth Base hospital. The Ambulance/Health system determines the receiving hospital in accordance with established medical protocols. For example, severe spinal injuries are usually transported to Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney.

The NSW Police Service utilises the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service's helicopters for searches for missing persons and to respond to aquatic emergencies through their Water Police division. This community service is provided to NSW Police free of charge.

Hunter Branch Surf Life Saving Association

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service was formed by members of the (then) Newcastle Branch Surf Life Saving Association in 1975. In 1984 the Service was incorporated and the initial directors came from the Surf Life Saving Association. In 1992 the Service's constitution was amended to provide for greater community representation on the Board.

The Board of 11 directors now comprises:

• Hunter Branch SLSA - 5 directors
• Newcastle City Council - 1 director
• Hunter Councils - 1 director
• Hunter Business Chamber - 1 director
• United Mineworkers Federation - 1 director
• Tamworth Advisory Committee - 1 director
• Company Staff - 1 director