22 May, 20, Source: HELP Appeal

Hereford County Hospital has opened its new, larger helipad thanks to the support of the HELP Appeal, the only charity in the country dedicated to funding hospital helipads.

The entire construction costs of the new helipad and additional infrastructure around the Emergency Department, were covered by the HELP Appeal’s £100,000 donation.

The new helipad has replaced the hospital’s smaller one, and due to its increased size, will enable larger air ambulances including those from the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity (MAAC) to land directly at the hospital. These bigger aircraft are vital in an emergency, as they are faster and can carry more medical equipment, another medic or the relative of a critically ill patient. The new helipad has also removed the need for a secondary transfer by road as larger aircraft couldn’t land at the hospital previously, which could have delayed treatment for a critically ill patient.

Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal said:

“The HELP Appeal was committed to ensuring that this helipad was fit for purpose, just like the other 38 hospital and air ambulance base helipads that we have funded across the country.

“This helipad at Hereford County Hospital means that AA crews will be able to land their critically ill patients safely and transfer them quickly to the emergency care they urgently need, which could save their lives. This is why there was no hesitation in donating the funding required for this much needed upgrade.

“I’d like to thank our donors, who helped to build this and other helipads across the country, including Kington Golf Club in Herefordshire, whose members have been so supportive of the HELP Appeal’s lifesaving work.”

Ian Roberts, Air Operations Manager for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, added:

“When a traumatic injury or medical emergency takes place, time is a critical factor in ensuring patients have the best possible chance of survival and recovery. Once we have provided initial and crucial treatment at an incident scene, it is imperative the receiving hospital has the very best infrastructure in place to allow the aircrew to smoothly transfer the patient to the A&E department, therefore the improved works to the helipad at Hereford Hospital will be of benefit to the patient.”

Related Posts

• Sikorsky and Boeing update Defiant X for US Army FLRAA bid
• Foresight HUMS integrates helicopter-specific data into Digital AirWare MRO software
• Wingcopter secures $22M to expand delivery drone business
• Centum phone location technology approved for Airbus H145
• Bristow achieves ISO 14001 environmental certification for UK operations
• CHC launches partnership for wildfire detection
• Airbus Helicopters resilient in 2020
• CHC wins another UK offshore windfarm contract
• Great Western Air Ambulance reports on 2020 missions
• UK – Children’s Air Ambulance reaches another milestone
• Flyjets adds helicopters to travel planning system
• New multi-million pound Cosford base approved for Midlands Air Ambulance
• Metro Aviation announce STC for Stryker Performance-LOAD Manual Cot Fastener
• Airborne Engines Ltd & Keystone Turbine Services reduce HMU prices
• Drone penetrates helicopter windshield, injuring crew
• EHang joins European Union project to demo Urban Air Mobility
• VNH South successfully organized the 2020 Customer Conference
• Belarus will receive new Mi-35s from Russia
• Airbus unveils Flightlab testbed for new technologies
• Bristow renews service with Navblue