Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service general manager Richard Jones said people around the region had complained about the telemarketing.

“These are generous people who have contributed to local fund raising events and knowing that the service does not telemarket they wondered why they are being approached in this way,” he said.

“The telemarketing message is sufficiently generalised to lead some people to think it is about the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.

“The Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service is responsible under government contracts for missions in Hunter, New England - North West, Central Coast and Mid North Coast regions and any advice people receive that is different is just plain wrong and misleading.”

Mr Jones said the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service did not believe in or practice telephone fund raising.

“People can choose to support any service or charity but it is important to know where the funds are going,” he said.

“Community support groups throughout the Upper Hunter, from Muswellbrook to Singleton, Denman to Scone, work tirelessly to raise funds for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service because they know that every local dollar helps to save a local life.”

Mr Jones said that in the past 12 months the rescue helicopters had flown more than 1000 missions helping local people.