A NEW helicopter landing pad at Royal Bournemouth Hospital has received its first flight from Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.


The new pad, which allows larger aircraft to land there as well as throughout the night was rebuilt at a cost of £119,000 thanks to the HELP Appeal.

Medics say the helipad will save vital minutes when transferring trauma patients from air ambulance into the hospital 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Work began in early June with air ambulances landing at St Peter’s School playing fields while work was carried out.

Richard Renaut, chief operating officer at the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “We’re delighted with the new helipad and yesterday we got to see it at its best – receiving a larger air ambulance than we would have been able to receive on our previous pad.

“We’re grateful to the HELP Appeal and all their donors for funding this facility. It’s going to make all the difference to patients coming into the Hospital via air, ensuring they receive the care they need as quickly as possible, both day and night.”

Robert Bertram, chief executive of the HELP Appeal, said: ‘We go where we’re needed most and Bournemouth Hospital needed our help to fund the entire upgrade and illumination of their helipad to accommodate larger air ambulances, which can hold more lifesaving equipment and crew. Air ambulances can now land beside the hospital 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This will have such a huge impact on patients when they become critically ill.

“We don’t receive any funding from the Government or the lottery, so would like to thank all of our supporters who helped to make this happen.”

Bill Sivewright, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance chief executive officer applauded everyone involved in the project.