Four years ago a state-of-the-art helipad opened at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, thanks to a £1million donation from the HELP Appeal. Since March 1, 2020, it has seen 387 landings.
The hospital’s previous helipad could not accommodate helicopter landings at night, but the current helipad is equipped with lighting, so air ambulances can land during darkness hours.
The new helipad was also enlarged to enable the latest generation of air ambulances to land. These bigger aircraft are hugely important in an 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 land at night, the new helipad has also benefitted from air ambulance transfers out to Major Trauma Centres including those at Plymouth, Southampton and Bristol, all of which have 24-hour operating helipads funded by the HELP Appeal.
Robert Bertram, chief executive of the HELP Appeal adds:
“Thanks to our supporters we were able to fund this lifesaving helipad in Devon – a county where we have also funded a helipad at Derriford Hospital and critical care cars for Devon Air Ambulance and BASICS Devon, which is a team of volunteer medics that attend emergency incidents in its spare time. We have more helipad projects in the pipeline including at Barnstaple Hospital, which wouldn’t be possible without our incredible fundraisers. Thank you.”
