HELP Appeal, May 12, 2020 - Hereford County Hospital, which is part of the Wye Valley NHS Trust, has opened its new, larger helipad thanks to the support of the HELP Appeal, the only charity in the country dedicated to funding hospital helipads.
The entire construction costs of the new helipad and additional infrastructure around the Emergency Department, including extra car parking were covered by the HELP Appeal’s £100,000 donation.
The new helipad has replaced the hospital’s smaller helipad and, due to its increased size, will enable larger air ambulances to land directly at the hospital. These bigger aircraft are vital in an emergency, as they are faster and can carry more medical equipment, another medic or a relative of the critically ill patient.
Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal said: “It’s fantastic that Hereford County Hospital’s helipad is ready to use and ready to save more lives. I’d like to thank our donors, who helped to build this and other helipads across the country, including Kington Golf Club in Herefordshire whose members have been so supportive of the HELP Appeal’s lifesaving work.”
Ian Roberts, Air Operations Manager for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, added: “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.”