Hospital’s new helipad ‘will be a lifesaver’

Helicopters are now able to fly critically ill and injured patients directly to Hull Royal Infirmary after the new £600,000 helipad was declared operational.

It was funded entirely by the HELP Appeal, the only charity in the country dedicated to funding NHS hospital helipads.

Previously patients were flown to a helipad on the other side of the hospital car park on Argyle Street and had to be transferred in an ambulance along Anlaby Road, one of the busiest roads in the city centre.

Intensive Care Consultant Dr Tom Cowlam said the new helipad saved 15 minutes and made transfers more seamless.

He added: “When you have a really poorly person, this might be the difference between life and death because this could be the time when they are having surgery or a massive blood transfusion to save them.”

Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal, said: “As the only charity in the country funding live-saving helipads, we are pleased to be able to cover the entire cost of the helipad. We know the difference having a ground-level helipad right outside ED would make.

“With the support of the air ambulances and the excellent emergency care team at Hull Royal Infirmary, this unique mix of helicopters, helipad and hospital medical staff will make a huge difference to those people who may need life-saving treatment urgently.”

Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance use the Hull helipad most often, with Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Derbyshire, Leicester and Rutland Air Ambulance also flying casualties to the city.

The Search and Rescue helicopter, based at Humberside Airport, also lands in Hull with people winched off mountains or those injured on oil rigs or out at sea.

The helipad will also be used by the Children’s Air Ambulance, which can fly specialist medical teams into Hull to treat seriously ill children as well as fly children from Hull to hospitals with specialist paediatric services.