Medical helicopter service faces big Connecticut budget cuts

Accident victims may no longer be able to count on such quick transport to a faraway trauma center via medical helicopter if budget cuts proposed by Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell are approved. Governor Rell has suggested slashing $1.4 million to Life Star, or roughly 20% of its budget, which would mean grounding one of its two helicopters. The service is operated by Hartford Hospital, but will fly to any hospital in the state, and to hospitals in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and upstate New York.