Helipad Insight | 2021

HELP Appeal P.O. Box 999, Walsall WS2 7YX T: 01922 618058 E: [email protected] W: www.helpappeal.org.uk

Registered Charity in England and Wales (1057063) and Scotland (SCO45963)

Supported by

The Injured Jockeys Professional Fund Footballers Association We give them the safest, quickest and most They have convenient place to land, directly at a hospital Contents The second someone is seriously injured or suffers a sudden illness, a unique and dangerous Chairman 4-5 clock starts ticking. Doctors know the best chance of a trauma patient surviving is if they Chief Executive 6-7 everything they receive the emergency medical attention they need in the first Helipad Projects Map 8-9 60 minutes. After this ‘Golden Hour’, the odds of a full recovery start to nose-dive. NHS Hospitals 10-71 need to That’s why the swift actions of the Air Ambulances can help save countless lives; cutting Night Flying 72-73 through the sky and getting the patient to the hospital in minutes, when congested roads, Air Ambulance Bases Helipads 74-75 save lives gridlocked motorways or incidents in remote, rural areas leave other crews battling to reach Critical Care Cars 76-77 the scene in time. Real Life Stories 78-79 In an emergency, when time is of the essence, being able to land seconds away from Impact Insight 80-81 specialist care, is crucial. For many patients, a helipad could represent the difference Activity Insight 82-83 between life and death. Funding Insight 84-85 Future Insight 86-87 The HELP Appeal is here to provide funding towards the most appropriate base infrastructure, where and when it’s needed. County Air Ambulance Trust Insight 88-89 Contact Details Back page And that’s how we are playing our important part in helping to save lives.

“There are times in life when people say we couldn’t have done it without you, but in this case it’s absolutely true and you should be extremely proud that your charity is one that saves lives and we will never forget it”

Rob Bentley, Clinical Director of King’s College Hospital, London

2 Insight Insight 3 Chairman of the HELP Appeal

The HELP Appeal was established in 2009 to help make a difference to an absolutely vital, but lesser known, element in emergency care – hospital helipads. We have the hospitals and air ambulances, but not helipads everywhere for critically ill patients to land. Helipads beside an ED save time in getting a seriously ill patient to treatment and could save their life. So, this had to change; and fast.

Since then, I’m delighted to say that, as the only charity in the country dedicated to funding lifesaving hospital helipads, the HELP Appeal has donated significant funds across the entire country.

Brand new helipads, upgraded helipads, helipads with state-of-the-art firefighting technology, helipads with lighting to enable night flights, heated helipads so helicopters can land safely in freezing weather, have only been possible because of public’s generosity. Without this support, we and a huge number of helipads across the country, would not exist.

But our work is not done. Although this report provides an insight into the huge advances we have made, it also highlights the level of funding that’s still urgently needed for many more projects that need our attention. With your help we can do this.

Michael Henriques, Chairman of Trustees

4 Insight Insight 5 Working with Air Ambulance Charities around the country, helping to save lives Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal

The HELP Appeal provides non-repayable grants towards the cost of new or improvements to helipads. Its effectiveness relies, in large part, on the powerful links we are able to establish with many key partners.

Work is ongoing with a number of hospitals to initiate new helipads and upgrade those that do not have the full facilities needed to accommodate helicopters at any time of the day or night.

We also value the huge support and encouragement we receive from Air Ambulance Charities around the country – this close cooperation is important in developing the network of landing points with direct access to specialist Emergency Departments, to ensure that the UK Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS), provides the very best service to patients.

Our focussed and targeted marketing campaigns have been successful in continuing to create awareness of the HELP Appeal. We are building on this profile to ensure that our fund raising aspirations are achieved and then applied to maintain a facility, which any one of us might need at any time.

Robert Bertram FRSA, Chief Executive

We would like to thank the various Air Ambulance Charities for use of many of the pictures featured in this brochure.

6 Insight Insight 7 ENGLAND SCOTLAND MAJOR TRAUMA CENTRES A&E HOSPITALS MAJOR TRAUMA CENTRES A&E HOSPITALS Helipad Projects Operational: Planned: Operational: Planned: Operational: Operational: St. George’s, London Brighton Gloucester Stoke Mandeville Milton Keynes Glasgow Stornoway King’s College, London Coventry Isle of Wight Worcester Wolverhampton Edinburgh Orkney The HELP Appeal is involved in a variety of important helipad projects, for a number of hospitals, Bristol Royal Infirmary Salford Shrewsbury Leicester Colchester Isle of Skye throughout England & Scotland. Many of these reflect the critical role played by Major Trauma Centres Bristol Southmead Sheffield Children’s Telford Scarborough Hastings Isle of Arran Southampton Royal Liverpool Oswestry Luton Gillingham Isle of Barra and the vital need for the right kind of base infrastructure. Preston St Mary’s, London Ipswich Bury St Edmunds Margate Inverness Cambridge Birmingham Bournemouth Keighley Redhill Isle of Mull A trauma system is specially designed to care for patients with multiple serious injuries that could result Plymouth Newcastle Grimsby Carlisle Dartford Campbeltown Sheffield General Stoke Dorchester Ashford St Leonards in death or serious disability, including head injuries, life-threatening wounds and multiple fractures. Liverpool Aintree Maidstone Torbay Bedford Planned: Leeds Portsmouth Romford Blackburn Kilmarnock Major Trauma Centres are set up to provide this specialised care. They are hubs that work closely Hull Exeter Peterborough Blackpool with a series of local trauma units. They operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and are staffed by Manchester Hereford Prescot Watford consultant-led specialist teams, with access to the best diagnostic and treatment facilities, including orthopaedics, neurosurgery and radiology. AIR AMBULANCE BASES Operational: Planned: Pre-hospital assessment and care is crucial – it means Air Ambulance crews work closely with the Kent Surrey Sussex AA London’s AA major trauma network to ensure that the most urgent patients are sent to the most appropriate place, Midlands AA Wiltshire AA often bypassing their local hospital for definitive treatment. Great Western AA Scotland’s Charity AA And being able to land close to the Emergency Departments is obviously a vital factor. Great North AA Lincs & Notts AA

This process of helipad development is “The HELP Appeal is a significant initiative in ensuring that those ongoing. We are involved in discussions patients who sustain life threatening critical injuries are able to be with other hospitals and many are undergoing feasibility studies to flown directly by air ambulance to a Major Trauma Centre, where all the ascertain the most appropriate solutions specialist clinical skills and medical equipment are immediately available for their individual situations and needs. to improve their chance of survivability and recovery. The HELP Appeal is the only charity in the country funding helipads at key hospitals.” Major Trauma Centres and A&E Hospitals Professor Sir Keith Porter, the UK’s only Professor in Clinical Traumatology Air Ambulance Bases

8 Insight Insight 9 Thanks to a £1.36 million donation from the HELP Appeal, a lifesaving helipad is in operation at the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), which includes Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI) and Royal Manchester Children’s Manchester Hospital (RMCH) - both major trauma centres in Manchester’s city centre.

Before the helipad was built, air ambulance patients had to land in a nearby University Hospital park before being transferred to a road ambulance to make the last mile of their journey to hospital. This was often undertaken on muddy or uneven ground, Major Trauma Centre 2021 adding to the risk of complications due to additional handling of the patient and delaying access to specialist care.

Today, the state-of-the-art rooftop helipad enables critically ill or injured babies, children and adults from across Manchester and the North West to be airlifted straight to MFT’s hospitals. Patients are then transferred to MRI’s Emergency Department in less than three minutes and to RMCH’s Paediatric Emergency Department in less than six minutes, saving time and saving lives. “We need to give thanks to the HELP

The HELP Appeal also funded the helipad’s Deck Integrated Fire Fighting Appeal, which gave us a tremendous start System (DIFFS), which can extinguish a fire in around 15 seconds, protecting to our fundraising. The helipad will make the helipad and hospital infrastructure. such a difference. It will enable us to get our patients to the right point of care very quickly because saving time, saves lives.”

Kathy Cowell, MFT Chairman

10 Insight Insight 11 A lifesaving helipad was built in Applecross in memory of Bethany Walker, who was 18 years old in 2018, when she was airlifted from the remote West Highland village to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness in 34 mins – a journey Applecross which is normally two hours or more by road – after contracting the flu virus which developed into sepsis. Community helipad 2021 Sadly, Bethany died, despite the best efforts of medical staff and the air ambulance - which had to land in the village’s pub car park, the only empty space available at the time.

Thanks to a £50,000 donation from the HELP Appeal and money raised from a local community fund created by Bethany’s mum Heather, which also included a donation from actor Hugh Grant, a permanent helipad was built.

Hugh Grant said: “Congratulations and well done to Heather and the HELP Appeal for making it happen.”

“Bethany hoped to become a midwife but sadly, she never got the chance to fulfil her dream, but her commitment to caring for others and saving lives will be reflected in this lasting legacy of a lifesaving helipad.”

Heather Teale

12 Insight Insight 13 The construction of the rooftop helipad at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (RHCYP) and the Department of Clinical Neuroscience (DCN) in Little France, Edinburgh was supported by a grant of £700,000 Royal Infirmary from the HELP Appeal, which covered half of the entire cost.

After a change in Civil Aviation Authority rules, the ground level location of Edinburgh of the original helipad at the Little France site, among trees and hillside, meant it could only operate during daylight hours. Night time patients Major Trauma Centre 2021 had to instead land at Edinburgh Airport, before being transferred to the hospitals by road ambulance, adding up to an hour onto their journey.

The RHYCP / DCN adjoins the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh via a link building, connecting both child and adult Emergency Departments, meaning that all air ambulance patients landing on the rooftop helipad with state-of-the-art lighting, now have much quicker access to emergency care and other clinical departments based on site, anytime of the day or night.

“The helipad will provide access to hospital services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with three trained helideck responders being available to ensure safe landing and departure. This will help to enhance patient care by facilitating a seamless transition of patients from the air ambulance to in-patient services.”

Dr Jon McCormack, Clinical Lead for Paediatric Major Trauma, NHS Lothian

14 Insight Insight 15 Before a fit for purpose helipad was built at Campbeltown Hospital, air ambulances often had to divert to Campbeltown Airport in order to land, due to challenges with ground conditions and waterlogged fields Campbeltown beside the hospital.

After a huge swell of demand from the local community for a state Hospital of the art helipad, the HELP Appeal stepped in to cover the entire £270,000 cost. A&E Hospital 2021 The helipad at Campbeltown Hospital means that patients can be Before the new helipad, air ambulances had transferred to and from the hospital at all times of day and in all to land on waterlogged, muddy conditions. weather conditions, saving time and saving lives.

16 Insight Insight 17 Before the new helipad was built at Hull Royal Infirmary, patients had to be flown to a helipad on the other side of the hospital car park and transferred to the Emergency Department in an ambulance along Hull Royal Infirmary Anlaby Road, one of the busiest roads in the city centre.

Major Trauma Centre 2020 To eliminate the need for a secondary transfer, a new £600,000 helipad, funded entirely by the HELP Appeal, was built right behind the hospital’s Emergency Department. Seriously ill or injured patients across East and North Yorkshire and parts of Lincolnshire can now access specialist care immediately after landing. “The new helipad shortens the journey by a quarter Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance uses the Hull helipad most often, with of an hour and removes the need for the patient Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Derbyshire, Leicester and Rutland Air to be transferred in a second ambulance to the Ambulance also flying casualties to the city. Emergency Department. The Search and Rescue helicopter also lands in Hull, with people winched off mountains or those injured on oil rigs or out at sea. It will make the transfer quicker and more seamless The helipad is also used by the Children’s Air Ambulance, which can fly for the trauma patient. specialist medical teams into Hull to treat seriously ill children as well as fly children from here to hospital with specialist paediatric services. 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.”

Dr Tom Cowlam, Intensive Care Consultant

18 Insight Insight 19 Hereford County Hospital was able to open a new, larger helipad after the HELP Appeal donated £100,000, which covered both the entire construction cost of the helipad and additional infrastructure around the Hereford County hospital’s Emergency Department.

The new helipad permanently replaces the hospital’s smaller helipad Hospital and, due to its increased size, enables larger air ambulances to land their critically ill patients safely and directly at the hospital and transfer A&E Hospital 2020 them quickly to the emergency care they urgently need. “When a traumatic injury or medical emergency takes place, time is a critical factor in ensuring patients have the best possible chance of survival and recovery. Once we have provided initial and crucial treatment at an incident scene, it is imperative the receiving hospital has the very best infrastructure in place to allow the aircrew to smoothly transfer the patient to the A&E department, therefore the improved works to the helipad at Hereford Hospital will be of benefit to the patient.”

Ian Roberts, Air Operations Manager for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity

20 Insight Insight 21 Before its upgrade, the helipad at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, was unable to receive night landings and larger aircraft. Thanks to the entire £1 million cost to rebuild being covered by the HELP Appeal, the Royal Devon and helipad is now equipped with lighting, so air ambulances can land during darkness hours.

Exeter Hospital The new helipad is also larger than the previous one, to enable the latest generation of air ambulances to land. These bigger aircraft are vital in an A&E Hospital 2020 emergency, as they are faster, can carry more medical equipment and another medic or a relative of a critically ill patient. As air ambulances can now land at night, the helipad also benefits from “Thanks to the HELP Appeal, our ambition air ambulance transfers out to Major Trauma Centres including those at to build a new helipad has become a Derriford Plymouth, Southampton and Bristol, all of which have 24 hour operating helipads funded by the HELP Appeal. reality. This means that patients with serious or life-threatening conditions or injuries are able to get to the Emergency Department even faster, day or night, and get the medical attention they need to really make a difference.”

Richard Crosthwaite-Eyre, ED Consultant & Trust Lead for Major Trauma

22 Insight Insight 23 Maidstone Hospital’s brand new, 24 hour helipad opened in November 2019 and replaced a temporary, outdated and unlit grass landing site, which “We are extremely grateful to the HELP was often waterlogged. Maidstone Hospital Appeal for generously agreeing to fund This valuable asset has undoubtedly increased the life chances of seriously the landing site which will make a real A&E Hospital 2019 ill or injured patients being brought to the hospital for treatment, or flown on to specialist centres elsewhere in the country. difference to Maidstone Hospital.”

The main user is Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex, but it is also available John Weeks, the Trust’s Director of Emergency Planning to other emergency services, as well as charities such as the Children’s Air Ambulance, which provides a medical transfer service for critically ill babies “The new helipad is a fantastic facility. Not and children. only will it allow us to fly patients into and All this was made possible as a result of a out of Maidstone Hospital to specialist £300,000 donation to Maidstone and Tunbridge centres so they can access critical care Wells NHS Trust from the HELP Appeal to fund quicker, it also means our crews can meet the entire cost. land ambulance teams who have seriously ill or injured patients on board, who also The helipad was officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal on 11th December 2019 need to be transferred elsewhere for urgent specialist medical treatment.”

Richard de Coverly, Assistant Director of Operations for Kent Surrey Sussex Air Ambulance

24 Insight Insight 25 As a Major Trauma Centre, the Royal Preston Hospital had all the medical specialists and departments on hand. It also had a helipad. What was lacking though, was the ability to fly critically ill patients to the hospital Royal Preston during hours of darkness. In 2013, the HELP Appeal stepped in to ensure that proper lighting could be installed, thereby bringing the hospital up to “We would like to thank the HELP Hospital the high standards expected of an MTC, across every facility. Appeal and everyone who donated. In 2019, the HELP Appeal covered the entire cost of improving the safety The improvements will ensure the Major Trauma Centre 2019 of the hospital helipad and further assisted its night flying capabilities. sickest patients can be transported and The works included additional safety signage, warning lights and automated treated at any time of the day. This is barriers which stop vehicles and pedestrians from passing close to the critical in providing the best possible Helipad. Lighting was also improved to assist staff in accessing the helipad during night-time. care and outcome for our patients.”

The system is also linked to a control panel which air ambulance pilots can Dr Denison Davies Major Trauma Clinical Lead activate remotely as they approach the helipad, which provides greater at the Royal Preston Hospital efficiency and improves the speed by which patients suffering from major illness or trauma can access emergency care.

26 Insight Insight 27 With over 500 flights each year it’s a common sight to see helicopters arriving and taking off from the helipad at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness. Raigmore Hospital, The helipad was in need of an upgrade to meet the increasing demands of larger and more frequent aircraft use as well as new standards such as landing lights and helipad size. This essential work was made possible after Inverness the HELP Appeal donated £480,000.

A&E Hospital 2018 “The helipad at Raigmore Hospital serves as an essential time and lifesaving facility on which the entire population of the Highlands and Islands may depend, not only due to the enormous area served by NHS Highland but also the distance covered and the remote locations.

The upgrade to the helipad will ensure that what we have on site is fit for the future, the difference between what we had and what we have now is quite impressive.”

Dr Andrew Rowlands, consultant in emergency medicine and clinical lead for the Emergency Department

28 Insight Insight 29 The hospital’s previous helipad was located at the back of the school field at Copleston High School. It would take critically ill patients between 15 to 20 minutes to be transferred to the hospital. With the new helipad, it is considerably Ipswich faster with this reduction in time offering seriously ill patients the best possible chance of survival and recovery.

Hospital The helipad also means the hospital and air ambulance teams can transfer patients from Ipswich Hospital for emergency treatment in other specialist centres A&E Hospital 2018 quickly and smoothly.

There are three air ambulances operating five helicopters across the region which “Trauma is a disease of time and every are able to land on the new helipad, including the East Anglian Air Ambulance. second is crucial when dealing with medical With a larger size of 25m x 25m and built-in lighting, air ambulance helicopters emergencies. The minutes the new helipad also have the ability to land at the hospital in the hours of darkness which couldn’t happen previously. at Ipswich Hospital will save could be the difference between life and death for many This means significantly more patients are now able to land at Ipswich Hospital of our patients. I am extremely proud of the and have access to its expert treatment because of these new developments. medical care that is provided by Ipswich The HELP Appeal funded the entire work with a Grant of £250,000. hospital and the East Anglian Air ambulance and am delighted that the HELP Appeal has enabled us to further enhance our service by making the new helipad possible.”

Dr Neil Berry, consultant Anaesthetist at Ipswich Hospital and on the East Anglian Air Ambulance

30 Insight Insight 31 The new helipad at Bournemouth Hospital, which opened in August 2017, replaced the previous helipad which was in a very poor condition and unable to take the state-of-the -art new breed of larger air ambulance helicopters. Bournemouth Planning permission was granted for a new helipad including night time flights. The construction, which was completed in three months, included Hospital lighting to allow for emergency landings in the hours of darkness. The HELP Appeal entirely funded the new helipad with a Grant of £119,000. A&E Hospital 2017 “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 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.”

Richard Renaut, Chief Operating Officer at The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

32 Insight Insight 33 Portree helipad was officially re-opened on Skye following an extensive refurbishment programme, to provide a base for two rapid emergency response helicopters on the island to treat patients in Portree, Isle of urgent trauma cases thanks to the HELP Appeal.

The new helipad capability saves vital minutes when transferring Skye Hospital trauma patients by air ambulance to hospital and the Scottish Ambulance Service believes it saves more lives. A&E Hospital 2017 The helipad is used jointly by the Scottish Ambulance Service and the HMS Coastguard and provides an important additional resource for the island.

“This new helipad will allow us to treat seriously injured patients more quickly in circumstances when every second counts, minimising the transfer time to hospital. It will make a huge difference to patients and ultimately save more lives.

“The upgrade work on the helipad in Portree is a fantastic addition to the emergency services provision in the Highlands and it is great to see it being opened.

“Having a number of appropriately equipped helipads across Scotland increases the ability of our skilled crews to get patients to the best treatment centre quickly and effectively.”

Andy Moir, Head of Air Ambulance Service, Scottish Ambulance Service

34 Insight Insight 35 Yorkshire Air Ambulance requested assistance to fund lighting on the helipad at Leeds General Infirmary, a Major Trauma Centre and one of the country’s leading teaching hospitals. The hospital has an international reputation for its expertise and the existing Leeds General helipad was built on the Jubilee Building in 2017.

Whilst thousands of flights by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance have brought sick patients Infirmary from all across the Yorkshire region and beyond to be treated by experts at LGI, the helipad was only in use during daylight hours but now thanks to the HELP Appeal, air Major Trauma Centre 2017 ambulances can land after dark. As well as funding the new lighting the HELP Appeal also funded new fire-fighting equipment.

Central to the site is the Jubilee Building, which brings together many of the country’s leading experts in caring for critically ill patients with serious brain injuries, heart and lung problems and major trauma. The hospital has a large and busy Accident and Emergency department for adults, and next to it is a separate dedicated facility catering for children up to the age of 16. Adjacent to this is Leeds Children’s Hospital.

“The HELP Appeal has been instrumental in facilitating the extension of our helideck capabilities, which is ensuring we can truly deliver world class major trauma services to the people of Yorkshire.”

Linda Pollard OBE, Chair of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

36 Insight Insight 37 A £1m helicopter landing pad at Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool opened in July 2017 following an inaugural test flight by the North West Air Ambulance. Aintree University Medics say the helipad saves vital minutes when transferring trauma patients from air ambulances into the hospital, which is part of the regional Major Trauma Centre Hospital, Liverpool together with neuro specialists at the Walton Centre. Previously air ambulances had to land on the playing fields in Lower Lane, after which Major Trauma Centre 2017 a road ambulance was sent to transfer patients to Aintree’s £35m Urgent Care and Trauma Centre. This added up to half an hour onto the journey. But, with the latest helipad, it takes just a few minutes. “Every second counts in matters of severe trauma, which makes helipads like this Simon Scott, clinical director for major trauma at Aintree, said: “The trauma centre treats patients who are seriously injured and, in those circumstances, every second one so critically important for patients counts and being able to minimise the transfer time makes a huge difference to our across the region. Its close proximity to patients and helps us save more lives.” the hospital will enhance the lifesaving The regional trauma centre receives patients from across Cheshire and Merseyside service we provide, as we will no longer who need urgent specialist care which isn’t necessarily available in their local hospital. have to rely on a land ambulance to transfer patients to the emergency department. Overall, we anticipate that this new addition at Aintree will save around 10-12 minutes per patient – enough to save a life.”

Mark Evans, Clinical Service Manager at the North West Air Ambulance Charity

HRH Prince William visited the helipad on 14th August 2017

38 Insight Insight 39 The helipad on top of King’s College Hospital’s 10-storey Ruskin Wing represents a hugely reassuring presence to trauma patients throughout South East London and Kent. King’s College It significantly speeds up the time it takes an Air Ambulance to transfer critically ill patients to the vital, expert care they need; the ‘landing-to-resus’ time is reduced to just Hospital, London 5 minutes, an improvement of anything up to 20 minutes on the previous arrangement. The helipad was also the first in mainland UK to be equipped with a deck integrated fire- Major Trauma Centre 2016 fighting (DIFFS) system. In the event of a fire, the automated system sprays foam from a series of nozzles installed into the helideck and will extinguish a blaze within seconds, even in the strong winds often experienced at this height. “We are incredibly pleased that our helipad at King’s is operational. It’s a very The system makes it safer for everyone involved, including emergency rescue teams, as they can work alongside the spray activation to help with the evacuation of patients and positive development for the patients we crew from the Air Ambulance. treat and our staff, who go above and

Not only does it mean that fire fighters can be freed up to work on the ground, but beyond, every single day to save people’s this modern and proven system saves the Trust up to £200,000 a year, at a time when lives. At King’s we treat some of the most budgets are under increasing pressure. seriously ill and critically injured patients in All this was made possible thanks to a total donation of £2.75 million from the HELP the South East. The helipad will speed up Appeal. It goes a long way to ensuring that King’s College Hospital continues to deliver the time it takes to transfer patients from world-class trauma care and save even more lives. helicopter to hospital, giving them the very best chance of survival.”

Dr Malcolm Tunnicliff, Clinical Director for Emergency Medicine at King’s College Hospital, London

40 Insight Insight 41 The process started with an acknowledgement that the previous helipad, built many years before, was no longer properly fit for the increasing demands of today. It was within a hilly area, surrounded by trees, which Sheffield Northern made landing an Air Ambulance an unnecessarily challenging procedure and, because of the distance from the Emergency Department, it required General Hospital a secondary transfer to reach the hospital. All this took extra time and created additional complexity and risks for Major Trauma Centre 2016 patients. Now a modern, fully operational helipad, serving the needs of a local population of 1.8 million, means that critically ill patients are a quick trolley push away from a consultant-led specialist team with access to the very best diagnostic and life-saving treatment facilities.

A Grant of over £1m from the HELP Appeal played a huge part in realising the aims and ambitions of Sheffield Hospital.

“We are indebted to the HELP Appeal for their extremely generous support of our appeal for a primary helipad. For our staff to know that patients injured closest to our MTC will no longer be flown elsewhere with better landing facilities is huge for us, and the large chunks of time saved when each Air Ambulance arrives means that we now have the very best chance of saving more lives. Thank you.”

Dr. Stuart Reid, Consultant Emergency Physician and Trust Clinical Lead for Major Trauma HEMS Doctor, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland Air Ambulance

42 Insight Insight 43 Although Derriford Hospital Plymouth is the Major Trauma Centre for Devon and Cornwall, until recently it didn’t have a helipad suitable for the demands placed upon it. A small grassed-over area with no lighting, where larger Search and Rescue Derriford Hospital, helicopters were unable to land anyway, was deemed wholly inadequate. Thanks in large part to a Grant of £850,000 from the HELP Appeal, a brand new helipad opened Plymouth in June 2015. The highly advanced facility addressed previous shortcomings including the installation of a proper lighting system, which now means that Air Ambulances and SAR helicopters are able to land at Derriford 24 hours a day. Major Trauma Centre 2015 Since 2015, the helipad has been used extensively by air ambulances bringing critically ill and seriously injured patients to the MTC to access the specialist treatment urgently required.

“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 to 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.”

Andrew Davies, Facilities Operations Manager for Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust

44 Insight Insight 45 As part of an enhanced network of care, there were plans to establish four specialist Major Trauma Centres in Scotland, from 2016. The Scottish Government predicted that these bases will provide life-saving treatment to Queen Elizabeth University 1,200 patients a year, by speeding up access to the specialist care they require.

Positioned on the rooftop of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow Hospital Glasgow and Royal Hospital For Sick Children, and with £700,000 funding support from the HELP Appeal, a large helipad sits at the heart of this state-of-the-art facility. Major Trauma Centre 2015 Its size enables larger search and rescue helicopters, such as Sea Kings, to land as well. The helipad’s efficient design results in further time savings – the Air Ambulance can be met by a team of specialists and then the patient will be taken down a ramp on a trolley, directly into the appropriate treatment room.

“I would like, on behalf of our staff and patients, to personally thank the HELP Appeal for their magnificent donation. It’s bringing real benefits to patients and helping save lives across Scotland.”

Andrew Robertson, Chairman, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

46 Insight Insight 47 The HELP Appeal had no hesitation in funding the installation of improved lighting at the Princess Royal Hospital’s helipad in Telford. Princess Royal This important addition means that flights during darkness hours are possible, allowing the safe transfer of critically ill patients, who need specialist care at a Major Trauma Centre if and when their Hospital, Telford condition deteriorates.

A&E Hospital 2015

“When a traumatic injury or medical emergency takes place, time is a critical factor in ensuring patients have the best possible chance of survival and recovery. Once we have provided initial and crucial treatment at an incident scene, landing at a lit hospital helipad with direct access to the A&E department means the transfer time to definitive care is improved, which is of great benefit to the patient.”

Ian Roberts, Air Operations Manager for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity

48 Insight Insight 49 Faced with extreme weather conditions on a regular basis, never was a hospital helipad so deserving of an upgrade. The poor surface of the existing Air Ambulance landing area meant that wheeled stretchers risked getting Western Isles stuck in the soft grass and vital time being lost when rushing critically ill patients to mainland hospitals.

Hospital, Stornoway The HELP Appeal stepped forward to fully fund the complete works associated with bringing their helipad up to the desired standard. A&E Hospital 2015 The state-of-the-art upgrade has made a huge difference to seriously ill and trauma patients in one of the northernmost points of the country.

“I can only thank the HELP Appeal most sincerely for their kindness, for making themselves known to us and then funding the work in its entirety.

They had a no-nonsense, straightforward approach. They were very quick to make decisions, very prompt in their responses and very positive. All round, I found it a very positive and somewhat humbling experience and one for which I will always remain grateful. Looking back at the challenge with the helipad surface, the stretcher wheels would not traverse grass so this was a problem in terms of getting any patient on and off the helicopter and to the edge of the pad. Now the helicopter can land, open the door and out comes the stretcher. It may sound dramatic but every second counts, it really does, when a patient needs to be evacuated. The quicker the transition to and from the helicopter can be, it can give us vital minutes which are extremely important to patients in terms of eventual outcome.”

Gordon Jamieson, NHS Western Isles Chief Executive

50 Insight Insight 51 The construction of the £3 million helipad, supported by a grant of £500,000 from the HELP Appeal, was part of a wider programme of redevelopment and refurbishment across the BRI by University Hospitals Bristol Royal Infirmary Bristol NHS Foundation Trust [UH Bristol].

Major Trauma Centre for Children 2014 Its opening coincided with the transfer of specialist children’s services, including burns, neurosurgery, plastic, orthopaedic and emergency services, from Frenchay Hospital to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.

The 25 x 25 metre aluminium helipad connects directly to services within the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children as well as the Bristol Heart Institute, which also receives patients transferred by helicopter for cardiac treatment.

A total of six Air Ambulance providers in the region use the helipad to transport seriously ill and injured patients to hospital.

“The new helipad will enable patients to be transferred rapidly and efficiently to specialist services in our hospitals from across the South West and will increase their chance of survival and a good recovery. It will support UH Bristol to fulfil its role as the Paediatric Major Trauma Centre for the South West and the Regional Centre for Primary Angioplasty (emergency treatment for a heart attack).”

Philip Cowburn, Consultant in Emergency Medicine and ‘flying doctor’ on Great Western Air Ambulance

52 Insight Insight 53 The HELP Appeal funded the entire cost of the major upgrade of the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital’s helipad, as it would help to save more lives. The helipad was extended to allow larger air ambulance helicopters to land and Royal Shrewsbury lights were installed to allow patients to be flown to the site in the dark.

Helicopter transfers after dark are usually for patients who suddenly need Hospital critical care that cannot be provided where they are and involve transfers from A&E hospitals to Major Trauma Centres. Now those transfer times A&E Hospital 2014 are significantly reduced as there is no need for secondary transfers by road ambulance.

“We would like to thank the HELP Appeal for their tremendous support with the upgrade of our helipad at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. The upgrade allows larger helicopters to land and has also brought improved lighting.”

Chris Needham, Director of Estates and Facilities at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust

54 Insight Insight 55 The HELP Appeal contributed over half the cost for the development of a ground level helipad at Southmead Hospital, an essential facility for the Bristol, Southmead region’s pivotal Adult Major Trauma Centre. Since its construction, there has been an average of one landing every two Major Trauma Centre for Adults 2014 days, giving access to quicker specialist treatment in medical emergencies.

“We are absolutely delighted that the HELP Appeal are supporting Southmead Hospital and services in the wider Bristol area. As the Adult Major Trauma Centre for the region, North Bristol NHS Trust provides a vital service and the increasing numbers of Air Ambulance transfers are a big part of that. The grant from the HELP appeal is a major contribution to our work.”

Jane Ibbunson, Head of Fundraising, Southmead Hospital Charity

56 Insight Insight 57 By significantly reducing transfer times to the Major Trauma Centre, the helipad at St George’s Hospital in South West London is helping to save the lives of many critically ill patients being flown in by the Kent, Surrey St. George’s and Sussex Air Ambulance, as well as others.

Positioned on the roof of the St. James Wing, it means that people with Hospital, London serious injuries, such as those caused by road accidents, shootings, stabbings, major burns and falls-from-height, can now be treated Major Trauma Centre 2014 more immediately.

The helicopter is able to land directly on the roof of the hospital rather than having to fly to locations further afield. From here, patients can then be taken directly to the Emergency Department via a dedicated lift, saving “The helipad is a great resource for the many vital minutes, at a critically important time. hospital and will make a huge difference to This was the second hospital helipad in London and the first south of the the trauma patients we receive here. Our river to be funded by the HELP Appeal. We’re proud to say that the start point for its development was the £1m grant from the charity. Major Trauma Centre already has the facilities and staff to provide expert care and with the addition of the new helipad, we can now deliver treatment faster than ever before.”

Heather Jarman, Clinical Director for Major Trauma at St. George’s Healthcare NHS Trust

58 Insight Insight 59 One of the biggest hospitals in the country and a respected Major Trauma Centre, surprisingly Addenbrookes did not have a helipad. Addenbrookes So, we helped with funding towards the cost of a temporary facility, which, for a number of logistical reasons, requires a secondary transfer by road ambulance to the A&E department. Everyone involved recognises that, Hospital, Cambridge even though the helipad has been a valuable addition to the process of getting patients with life-threatening injuries treated more quickly, the new Major Trauma Centre 2013 arrangement is not entirely what is needed. We commissioned an in- depth feasibility study in conjunction with the CAAi to see how the current restrictions might be overcome one day.

60 Insight Insight 61 A significant investment from the HELP Appeal enabled a helipad to be opened in 2013 and is now used by Air Ambulances and HM Coastguard. St. Mary’s Hospital, Not being on the mainland presents more acute challenges for accident teams dealing with life threatening injuries. The absence of a Major Trauma Centre on the island, means that patients sometimes need to be taken Newport, Isle of Wight to Southampton for more specialist treatment and the option of a time consuming transfer by road and ferry, is not viable. An Air Ambulance A&E Hospital 2013 departing from the perfectly positioned helipad provides the safest, quickest and most comfortable option. “This fantastic new development enables Also part of the package was our funding of a new, covered walkway, to patients with life threatening injuries to be protect patients and staff during inclement weather. flown from the trauma unit at St. Mary’s to the Trauma Centre at University Hospital Southampton, or to other specialist centres. It will also enable St. Mary’s to receive, more directly, patients who require transfer by helicopter from incidents elsewhere on the Island. We’re very grateful to everyone who has been involved in its development and to the HELP Appeal for their funding.”

Karen Baker, Isle of Wight NHS Trust Chief Executive

62 Insight Insight 63 Revised CAA rules, together with the building of a new multi-storey car park, meant that the existing helipad had to be de-commissioned. Gloucester Royal Extensive alterations were required to get it open and fully operational again. Thanks to vital funding provided by the HELP Appeal, the necessary improvements were made and the helipad is now making a huge Hospital, Gloucester difference in helping to save lives across the county.

A&E Hospital 2012 Seriously ill and injured patients in need of emergency treatment, can be transferred by Air Ambulance directly to the hospital helipad, which is on the doorstep of the Emergency Department. It also means that critical care transfers, where patients are moved from one hospital to another for specialist treatment, are made more quickly and more safely.

“We are delighted to see the re-opening of the helipad. Air Ambulances can be an effective way of getting faster access to hospitals and are enormously valuable in transferring patients from rural areas of the county or where road access is difficult. Helicopter transport enables the ill or injured to reach expert care in A&E sooner, giving them the best possible chance of surviving. We are grateful to the County Air Ambulance Trust for making the re-opening possible.”

Maggie Arnold, Emergency Care Programme Director

64 Insight Insight 65 Southampton General had been working towards a new on-site helipad for some time when the HELP Appeal funded two thirds of the necessary costs to get the project off the ground. Situated on top of the hospital’s main car park, it means that patients are just Southampton a short trolley push down the ramp directly into the expert care of waiting consultants. Critically, up to half an hour has been shaved from previous transfer times.

General Hospital The new helipad represents a crucial piece of life-saving equipment for the hospital and is playing a key role in helping critically ill patients in the region. Since it opened in 2011, Major Trauma Centre 2011 thousands of landings have been recorded.

“The helipad will save lives and improve outcomes for a wide range of patients across Hampshire – including the Isle of Wight, Wiltshire, Dorset and beyond and is one of the few helipads in the UK that can receive critically ill patients 24 hours a day. Southampton General Hospital serves as the Major Trauma Centre for the region and provides specialist children’s services for the whole of the south of England. It also provides specialist care for patients suffering strokes, heart attacks and other critical illnesses. This helipad will offer many more people access to the care they require.”

Dr. Andy Eynon, Director of Major Trauma, University Hospital, Southampton NHS Foundation Trust [UHSFT]

66 Insight Insight 67 Located on the Shropshire and North Wales border, the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital NHS Trust serves a local population of 1.8 million, with a patient base that extends both nationally The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt and internationally.

A specialist hospital with a worldwide reputation for innovation and Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry research, the Trust provides particular expertise in dealing with serious spinal injuries. So it is vital that every aspect of the patient transfer process Specialist Spinal Injuries Unit 2009 is in place to make the treatment as effective and comfortable as it can be.

In this case, a 100 metre, smooth, covered walkway which we funded now extends from the landing facility to the hospital entrance. The installation of purpose designed helipad lighting has facilitated patients being brought to the hospital at any time of the day or night.

The HELP Appeal recognised that all these elements were essential, ”We are very grateful to the HELP Appeal especially for a spinal injuries unit, and funded the helipad base for this much improved facility, which will infrastructure in full. be of great benefit to our patients. It will make transfers far more comfortable, which is particularly important for people with spinal injuries.”

Wendy Farrington Chadd, RJAH Trust Chief Executive

68 Insight Insight 69 CAA International (CAAi) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Civil Aviation Authority, providing a technical advisory service, professional training and examination services covering all aspects of the application and implementation Civil Aviation Authority of aviation regulation. These activities are delivered to other national aviation authorities, Governments and operators worldwide covering airworthiness, International flight operations, air traffic, aerodromes, licensing, airspace, economic regulation, risk and safety management, organisation process and management.

The HELP Appeal has been working with the CAAi for the past ten years and commissioned them to provide over 30 Feasibility Studies at NHS hospitals when the HELP Appeal plan to fund helipads. These studies cover a number of aviation specific areas that need to be considered in order to ensure that The CAAi recognises the key role that the HELP the final installation is fit for purpose and will meet both the operational requirements of the helicopter operator and the clinical needs of the hospital. Appeal plays in the construction or upgrade of an onsite hospital helipad. In its latest report, It also ensures that the HELP Appeal uses money it raises without risk of funding inappropriately located helipads. ‘Hospital Heliports: General Guidance and Information’, it says, “it is worth a hospital Trust The HELP Appeal worked closely with the CAAi to introduce the installation of Deck Integrated Fire Fighting Systems (DIFFS) for rooftop hospital helipad contacting the HELP Appeal to discuss how to across the country. Key DIFFS projects have included the rooftop helipads at apply for funding support.” King’s College Hospital London; St George’s Hospital London; Royal Sussex Brighton Hospital; Bristol Royal Infirmary; and DIFFS are planned for the Royal Victoria Newcastle Hospital and at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

70 Insight Insight 71 Air Ambulances are committed to getting the right resource to the right patient, in the right timeframe, every time. Night Flying However, this determination can often be limited by the lack of night flying capabilities. For our part, the HELP Appeal is doing all it can to provide Major Trauma Centres and Landing Capabilities Accident & Emergency Hospitals with the necessary new or upgraded base infrastructure to enable night landing and so support the specialist skills of the pilots and clinical teams.

The installation of the latest lighting systems for example, mean that serious trauma incidents and patient transfers can be handled more speedily and safely during the hours of darkness.

We are now also involved in the provision of funding for lighting packages on secondary landing sites, in areas throughout the length and breadth of the country – another very real example of how the HELP Appeal is helping to saves lives.

“We are building upon the infrastructure with the support of the HELP Appeal to reach more patients, especially in rural areas where the speed of transport to specialist centres helps improve their outcomes. This can only be achieved with an improved lit helipad network.”

Ian Roberts, Air Operations Manager for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity

72 Insight Insight 73 The HELP Appeal is best known for funding hospital helipads. But this isn’t all we do to help air ambulances save the time it takes to get a critically ill “We are extremely grateful to THE HELP Appeal for patient to hospital. Air Ambulance their generosity in donating £250,000 for our new By funding new and improved helipad bases at various Air Ambulance helipad. The funding has enabled us to build the best Charities across the country, we are helping by providing the funds allowing Bases Helipads the Air Ambulance Charities to concentrate on their core activities. possible helipad, which will ultimately help us to save lives. This is because our pilots and paramedics will To date we have made significant donations to the following Air Ambulances, thereby ensuring that their bases meet the needs of an have immediate access to the aircraft as their room increasingly busy and demanding service: is close to the helipad, saving valuable seconds.

• Midlands AA (Cosford and Strensham) “The trace heating on the helipad is a new benefit • Great Western AA for our operation. Instead of the aircrew having to • Wiltshire AA clear away ice and snow off the helipad manually, • AA Kent Surrey Sussex the trace heating will clear it automatically. Not only • London’s AA will this be safer working conditions for our aircrew, • Lincs & Notts AA • Great North AA but it will also enhance our response times in • Scotland’s Charity AA inclement weather.”

David Philpott, Chief Executive of Wiltshire Air Ambulance

74 Insight Insight 75 The HELP Appeal’s core fundraising activity revolves around the provision of new and upgraded hospital helipads throughout the country. Critical Care Cars We have, though, identified another area of vital critical care where our financial help will be able to make a real difference to improving survival rates and restoring quality of life.

Sometimes, due to the nature of densely built-up areas, a dedicated, high-tech car rather than a helicopter, may be the quickest form of response to a pressing emergency.

Critical Care Cars, packed with state-of-the-art equipment and crewed by specialist medical teams, provide a necessary rapid response support option to the NHS Ambulance services.

The HELP Appeal is proud to have given valuable financial support for this important cause to Midlands Air Ambulance, West Midlands CARE Team and The British Association for Immediate Care (BASICS).

Both the helipads and the Critical Care Cars achieve the same objective and that is to help save lives.

76 Insight Insight 77 “Some people may feel “If the helipad had been indestructible but when you anywhere other than just a short have a serious accident like I trolley dash to the emergency Real Life Stories and the did, you realise you’re not. Any department, Amelia would not delay in treatment could have be here today. Saving time, Difference We Made been detrimental to my health. saved her life.” The helipad ensured that I was Jemma, mother to Amelia, delivered into the right hands who suffered a serious head promptly.” trauma when she was just Martin suffered multiple three years old. Lesley Knight is a very special person, the face of the fractures to his spine and was in a coma for eight days. Now HELP Appeal and a double award winning fundraiser recovered, he’s living life to the In March 2008 Lesley lost her only child, a lovely boy called Thomas, after an accident in the road. full with wife Wendy.

Tom was airlifted with his mother to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, where all possible efforts were made to save his life.

In a road ambulance the journey would have taken forty minutes. The Air Ambulance took just six minutes BUT had to land on the road rather than directly at the hospital. “Ellena’s air ambulance couldn’t “I find it astonishing that such a vital medical resource like Since that day, Lesley has been focusing her attention on raising funds for the HELP Appeal and land at the hospital as there was a hospital helipad requires has become the embodiment of what the charity stands for. no helipad, so she had to hover over a busy park that was full of charitable funding. If there had Lesley is a double award winning fundraiser. In 2018, Lesley won the Community Hero of the Year families and wait for an area to been no helipad I wouldn’t have award at Woman and Home magazine’s #50over50 awards ceremony after its 285,000 readers clear before she could safely land got the specialist care that I learned of her huge dedication to the HELP Appeal. Woman and Home magazine said: and be rushed to A&E. It felt like desperately needed immediately. forever. Despite this delay, Ellena It’s as simple as that.” “Turning her grief into something positive, Lesley began fundraising for the HELP Appeal and has survived. Others might not be so helped to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds.” Jennifer, suffered life threatening lucky.” injuries after a road accident but In 2019 Lesley won ‘Fundraiser of the Year’ at the national Charity Today Awards, which celebrate Genna, mother to Ellena who since her recovery has climbed and reward true excellence in fundraising. was only a few months old when Mount Kilimanjaro. On the achievement that Lesley is most proud of, she said: “The building of so many helipads, she stopped breathing while meaning that through the loss of my son, many lives have been saved.” on holiday. Thankfully she has completely recovered.

78 Insight Insight 79 Since 2009 the HELP Appeal has instigated and driven a number of projects that are now helping to save lives and improve a patient’s chances of a full recovery. The scale and importance of what we have already done is evident ‘on the ground’, as is our ambition Impact Insight for future years - these numbers represent real and tangible help in action.

over landings at Helipads funded by the new 17,000 HELP Appeal helipads St. George’s London opened over landings since 22 1,533 April 2014

new and upgraded helipad 42 helipads upgrades planned for 15 undertaken 2021+

80 Insight Insight 81 Activity by user of the helipad. Activity by patient destination – 182 out of 316 patients [57%] were sent to Resus.

140 182 Activity Insight 200 120 180 160 100 140 The funding provided by the HELP Appeal is helping to save more lives at an 80 120 increasing number of hospitals across the length and breadth of England and 100 60 from 2015, Scotland as well. 80 45 40 60 The big difference we are making is borne out by the high levels of activity 40 20 13 from Air Ambulances using the many new and upgraded helipads. 9 8 7 20 0 0 3 0 1 2 1 4 4 1 2 6 4 0 1 “In the ‘Golden Hour’ after an accident 0 0 The key activity figures from just one Major Trauma Centre, shown on the page Hampshire Coastguard Dorset and Kent, Surrey Thames Police – Wiltshire Devon London Children’s Police – Royal Air Army Air Royal Navy D4 F6 F7 and Isle of Somerset and Sussex Valley and Dorset Air Air Air Air Wiltshire Force Corps PAH CDU GICU AMU ASU Resus Majors Minors NRTU opposite, demonstrate in detail the big difference we are undoubtedly making. or sudden illness, the difference is often Wight Air Air Air Chiltern Air Ambulance Ambulance Ambulance Ambulance D Neuro Cath Lab Ambulance Ambulance Ambulance Ambulance Trust No Patient Paed / PICU Test LandingNot Recorded a fast flying helicopter that reaches the ill Doctor PickDoctor Up Drop Off The helipad at University Hospital, Southampton was opened with our support Patient Transfer (Out) in November 2011 and since then, there have been thousands of landings. The or injured sooner and gets back to A&E charts on the opposite page illustrate the detail of activity and demonstrate the quickly enough to give those in distress value of such a facility to patients in that region. the best possible chance of surviving.” Landing times – The majority of flights are between the hours of 11.00 and 20.00. Activity by day – Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays have seen the most flights in the year This is similar to the pattern for non-helicopter admissions. up until the end of November 2015. Dr. Charles Deakin, Consultant at Southampton University Hospitals Trust and founder member of the 52 53 52 31 60 Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance 35 30 43 45 27 27 50 30 23 39 32 25 19 20 40 17 16 20 15 15 13 30 11 15 8 9 6 7 7 20 10 5 4 10 5 1 2 1 2 0 0 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

0800-… 0900-… 1000-… 1100-… 1200-… 1300-… 1400-… 1500-… 1600-… 1700-… 1800-… 1900-… 2000-… 2100-… 2200-… 2300-… 2400-… 0100-… 0200-… 0300-… 0400-… 0500-… 0600-… 0700-…

Source: University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust Helipad Activity Summary – to end November 2015.

82 Insight Insight 83 Funding Insight Over Over Over funds £67.5m raised £39m £80m in projected funds value of helipad projects to be raised 12 years built and 2009 to 2020 2020 to 2023 planned

Turnover – a record of growth Helipad Spend – how much we’ve contributed each year

For the past 10 years the HELP Appeal has been raising much needed £5.0m £4.8m £10m £9.2m £5m £4.5m funds to provide life-saving helipads where they are needed most. In that £8.7m £4.1m £8.5m £4.5m £9m £8.0m time, we have achieved a good record of growth and our plans for the £7.8m £3.7m £7.3m future are even more ambitious – more funds to help save more lives. £8m £4m £7m £3.5m £3.0m £5.72m We have identified a number of hospitals, both Major Trauma Centres £6m £3m

and key A&E hospitals, where helipads or upgrades are needed over the £5m £2.5m £2.08m

next few years and where we have agreed to provide funding. Locations £4m £2m

range right across the country from Brighton to Edinburgh and the timing £3m £1.5m

of some are tied in to new hospital building programmes. We are the £2m £1m

only charity providing funding for new and upgraded helipads and we are £1m £0.5m

determined that with the support of the general public and businesses we 0 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 will be in a position to meet the challenges ahead.

Figures for County Air Ambulance Trust

84 Insight Insight 85 Our ambition is to provide the most appropriate helipad at every Major Trauma Centre and key A&E Hospital in the country Future Insight To achieve this and to ensure that HELP will continue to be at hand, we have a set of very clear aims. We want to build on our existing relationships with the NHS, CAAi and Air Ambulances. Just one example of this close collaboration approach, is our financing of Feasibility Studies to speed up the process of identifying what is possible and right for the needs of each individual hospital.

We will make this happen by working to increase people’s awareness of the HELP Appeal campaign across the country, so as to secure the income necessary to fund the valuable grants we provide.

We are looking at any developments that will enhance the base infrastructures we finance; initiatives such as implementing the installation of deck integrated fire-fighting systems, which could dramatically improve safety criteria and reduce the cost of hospitals having to provide the fire-trained personnel currently required.

All these commitments will ensure that those patients who sustain life-threatening injuries, can be flown directly by Air Ambulances to a hospital that has the specialist skills to deal with their particular condition and thereby significantly improve their chances of survival and recovery.

Our plans are ambitious but we are determined to achieve them for the sake of those lives that depend on us.

“I commend the HELP Appeal for working tirelessly to ensure as many hospitals in London and across the country have the funding they need to build such life-saving facilities.”

Boris Johnson, former Mayor of London

86 Insight Insight 87 The HELP Appeal is organised and coordinated by the County Air Ambulance Trust Patron: (CAAT), which also continues to offer financial support to Air Ambulances. Catherine, Lady Forester DL County Air Ambulance Trust CAAT is a private company, limited by guarantee and registered with the Charity Life President: Commission. It has been helping to save lives, every day, since 1993 when it was Hugh Meynell MBE formed to provide essential funding to keep the first air ambulance in the central Honorary Chairman: Insight region in service. The Trust was incorporated on 10th April 1995 and registered as a Mrs Anna Turner JP charity on 24th July 1996. Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire The principal aim is to generate income from fundraising activities to promote, develop and enhance support for the provision of Helicopter Emergency Medical Vice Presidents: Services (HEMS) throughout the country. In this context, the Trust encourages Sir Algernon Heber-Percy KCVO the implementation of the very best clinical practices, as well as reviewing and The Countess of Aylesford considering future developments within HEMS systems, which will improve clinical Lindsay Bury outcomes for patients. The Lord Stafford John N Kirkland And a key part of the Trust’s existence is in working to ensure that Air Ambulances The Lord Vestey have somewhere safe and secure to land when they get to a hospital, through The Duke of Beaufort our HELP Appeal. We will continue the promotion of the campaign to help end Professor Sir Keith Porter preventable loss of life caused by secondary transfers, as well as leading the Martin Thompson improvement in the availability of primary helicopter landing sites. Robert Bentley FRCS(Eng)

This pedigree, parentage and skill sets are evidence of our commitment to the HELP Chairman of Trustees: Appeal and its value to critically injured patients, past, present and future. Michael Henriques

Registered Company number: 03044061 Deputy Chairman: Registered Charity in England and Wales (1057063) and Scotland (SCO45963) John Jones DL Principal Address & Registered Office: PO Box 999, Green Lane, Walsall WS2 7YX Trustees: Hugh Meynell MBE Mrs. Michael Brinton DL Paul Harris Richard Everard, OBE, DL Mrs. Nicholas Bishop Dr. Shaukat Ali Hon. Arthur Vestey Toby Askin

88 Insight Insight 89