New helipad opens at Salisbury District Hospital
It's larger, with better lighting and a weather station to help air ambulances
An upgraded helipad at Salisbury District Hospital has been unveiled this afternoon (Wednesday 17th April).
New lights and a weather station mean the larger landing area can be used more often for people who need emergency care.
It's been made possible thanks to a £321,000 donation by the national charity, HELP Appeal.
Ian Robinson, Head of Facilities at Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, and Chair of the Helipad Working Group, said:
“Approximately 60 patients each year arrive at our hospital via helicopter. To ensure we provide this vital service for many years to come, a replacement of our helipad was urgently required.
“We have been successful in securing all the funding required for this work from the HELP Appeal charity and we are indebted to them for their continued support. This project represents a significant investment in our hospital, benefiting some of our most critically ill patients.”
Work began on the new helipad in January, leaving the site out of action for three months.
It's been reopened today after a series of test flights.
Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal, said:
“Patients have this incredible hospital, amazing medical teams and local air ambulances, so it’s only right that they have a state-of-the-art helipad too, that’s fit for purpose and able to accommodate the immediate landings and transfers of critically ill patients, any time of the day or night. Thanks to our supporters we are able to fund this new helipad, which is going to make patient transfers easy, efficient, and expeditious.”
Wiltshire Air Ambulance Safety and Ground Operations Manager Richard Miller adds:
“We can’t thank the HELP Appeal enough for investing in the new helipad for the trauma centre at Salisbury District Hospital. This now ensures the helipad complies with the latest CAP1264 regulations (Standards for Helicopter Landing Areas at Hospitals), enabling ourselves and neighbouring air ambulance resources to safely convey patients to the Emergency Department on a regular basis.”