HELP Appeal, May 15, 2025 - King’s College Hospital has marked a major milestone this week as its rooftop helipad received its 2,000th patient since opening in October 2016, dramatically improving emergency care access for critically ill and injured patients across south east London and Kent.
The helipad, which allows direct transfers of emergency patients by air ambulance to the hospital’s expert trauma teams, was made possible thanks to a £2.75 million donation from the HELP Appeal, the only charity in the country dedicated to funding NHS hospital helipads.
In addition to helping to fund the helipad’s construction, the HELP Appeal also funded its Deck Integrated Fire Fighting System – the first of its kind at any UK hospital. This pioneering system is capable of automatically extinguishing a fire in seconds, significantly enhancing safety for patients and crew.
Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal who was interviewed by King’s College Hospital to mark the huge milestone says: “It is not possible to calculate how many lives have been saved, but this huge number of patient landings confirms how vital the helipad has been since it opened in October 2016. Since then, every one of those patients has had fast access to the brilliant medical teams 25 minutes sooner than before the helipad was built, giving them the best possible chance. We’re proud to have helped fund this critical facility and we are very grateful to our supporters for making it possible.”
Rob Bentley, King’s College Hospital surgeon and National Clinical Director for Major Trauma and Burns adds: “This helipad serves 4.5 million people 24 / 7 and it has represented a huge increase in the ability to provide equity of access and a quality outcome for all of our trauma patients.”
King’s College Hospital is one of London’s four Major Trauma Centres, treating some of the most serious and complex cases across the capital and the south east of England. The helipad has played a key role in enabling faster, more efficient patient transfers from across the region, particularly vital when every second counts.
The helipad, which allows direct transfers of emergency patients by air ambulance to the hospital’s expert trauma teams, was made possible thanks to a £2.75 million donation from the HELP Appeal, the only charity in the country dedicated to funding NHS hospital helipads.
In addition to helping to fund the helipad’s construction, the HELP Appeal also funded its Deck Integrated Fire Fighting System – the first of its kind at any UK hospital. This pioneering system is capable of automatically extinguishing a fire in seconds, significantly enhancing safety for patients and crew.
Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal who was interviewed by King’s College Hospital to mark the huge milestone says: “It is not possible to calculate how many lives have been saved, but this huge number of patient landings confirms how vital the helipad has been since it opened in October 2016. Since then, every one of those patients has had fast access to the brilliant medical teams 25 minutes sooner than before the helipad was built, giving them the best possible chance. We’re proud to have helped fund this critical facility and we are very grateful to our supporters for making it possible.”
Rob Bentley, King’s College Hospital surgeon and National Clinical Director for Major Trauma and Burns adds: “This helipad serves 4.5 million people 24 / 7 and it has represented a huge increase in the ability to provide equity of access and a quality outcome for all of our trauma patients.”
King’s College Hospital is one of London’s four Major Trauma Centres, treating some of the most serious and complex cases across the capital and the south east of England. The helipad has played a key role in enabling faster, more efficient patient transfers from across the region, particularly vital when every second counts.
King's College Hospital See also |
KSSAAT
Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance Trust UK Air Ambulances 
Air Medical Ambulance Services HELP Appeal 
