Life-saving helipad marks first anniversary

This week marks the first anniversary of the opening of our helipad, which was officially launched on Friday 5 June 2015, with its first ever landing of a Search and Rescue helicopter.

Previously Derriford Hospital did not have a recognised helipad and instead had a small grassed-over area adjacent to the Emergency Department, which had been used for some years as a set-down area for air ambulances.

In 2012, Derriford Hospital officially became the Peninsula Trauma Centre. After talk of building a new helipad many years ago, it became a reality when the closure of the Plymouth Airport was announced, leaving the hospital without a backup plan.

The helipad was funded by the County Air Ambulance HELP (Helicopter Emergency Landing Pads) Appeal, which has contributed £850,000 alongside £900,000 capital funding from the hospital Trust.

In its first year, there have been over 280 air ambulance and search and rescue helicopter landings, including patients who have been involved in vehicle incidents or sustained falls.

Helipad marks first anniversary

Andrew Davies, Facilities Operations Manager for Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “The new helipad has made a huge difference to the way in which the hospital is able to receive and treat time critical patients.

“This fantastic facility has made it easier for operators to land, has extended their ability to land at night if required and has meant that a far greater type of aircraft is able to use the helipad.

“It is hard the believe that only a year ago we were still reliant on a large piece of grass for operators to land, the new helipad looks as if it has always been there and its design and construction is a great credit to all those involved in its conception and delivery.”

Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of County Air Ambulance HELP Appeal said: “The HELP Appeal’s donation has made such a difference to a huge number of critically ill patients who were rescued from across the South West.

“Time between incident and treatment in some injuries is critical. Minutes stuck in traffic can worsen conditions and in some cases, cost lives. Every minute counts. With a fully functioning Helipad, search and rescue patients and seriously ill patients that need air lifted at night have been able to land beside the Emergency Department for the expert care they urgently need.”

The previous area was unsuitable for larger helicopters, such as those from the Military and Search and Rescue, and it also had no lighting. No flights, even from smaller helicopters, have been able to land at Derriford at night.

Our helipad will now be able to receive Search and Rescue helicopters as well as the night flights from Devon and Cornwall Air Ambulances.

More information on the HELP Appeal can be found at http://www.helpappeal.com/