Equity in the provision of helicopter emergency medical services in the United Kingdom: a geospatial analysis using indices of multiple deprivation.

The provision of HEMS in the UK is consistent with the Inverse Care Law. HEMS operations in more deprived areas serve larger populations, thus providing a healthcare resource inversely proportional with the expected needs of these communities. Funding structures may explain this variation as charities are more highly concentrated in more affluent areas.