The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital’s helipad in Oswestry opened 14 years’ ago this month, after the HELP Appeal, the only charity in the country dedicated to funding NHS hospital helipads, donated £400,000 to cover its entire upgrade. Since then, it has seen 1,150 landings which have included patients with serious spinal injuries, who have been flown directly to the hospital to receive specialist care.
The much-needed donation from the HELP Appeal funded a covered walkway, which extends from the helipad to the hospital entrance, ensuring every patient has a smooth and dignified transfer. Funding also covered the installation of helipad lighting, which enables patients to be brought to the hospital at any time of the day or night – a must for the shorter days throughout the Autumn and Winter months.
Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal says:
“This was the first hospital helipad to be funded by the HELP Appeal in 2009 when it began its mission to ensure that critically ill patients have access to hospitals’ Emergency Departments immediately after landing in air ambulances as saving time saves lives. To see the impact it is still having to this day is a testament to the integral and lifesaving role helipads play in medical treatment.”
Since this upgrade in 2009, the HELP Appeal has gone on to fund over 49 helipads across the country, including in Shrewsbury and Telford, which have received over 25,000 landings. It still has over 50 hospital helipads in the pipeline to fund including in Salford, Mull, Sheffield Children’s and Brighton, which are all opening soon.
To support the HELP Appeal, please visit, www.helpappeal.org.uk
Pictured: The helipad which has seen 1,150 landings.
