Sheffield Children’s is set to open its new, £6 million emergency helipad in summer 2024.

Built on the hospital’s rooftop, the 26m x 25m helipad, including the support structure, has been constructed from 30 tons of aluminium, so it can hold a colossal 22,500kg – 2.5 times the estimated weight of a Leonardo AW189.

There are expected to be around 12 emergency landings on the helipad every year and around 30 transfers for specialist care.

Robert Bertram, chief executive of the HELP Appeal, which is the only charity in the country dedicated to building hospital helipads including at Sheffield General, was invited to the helipad site to review progress ahead of the opening, after the charity donated over £2.8 million – the largest contribution to the Sheffield Children’s Helipad Appeal.

Robert Bertram, chief executive of the HELP Appeal, said:

“Hospitals and helicopters help to save lives. But a helipad at Sheffield Children’s Hospital will also play key role by linking the two together so seriously ill or injured children can be transferred quickly and seamlessly to the Emergency Department after landing in an air ambulance. This is why we had no hesitation in making the £2.8million donation, which was only made possible by our supporters.”

Working with The Children’s Hospital Charity since 2014, the HELP Appeal relies solely on support from public donations.

The new helipad will reduce delays for patients who need urgent critical care from across South Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire, and offer privacy and dignity. Sheffield Children’s is one of only five dedicated Major Trauma Centres in England, and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Air ambulances currently have to land in Weston Park, where trauma patients are then stretchered across a busy road under a police escort before entering the Emergency Department.

Bertram adds:

“We’d like to thank our supporters – from those who donated to people who took on massive challenges and time out of their busy lives to raise money for our lifesaving work. Without these heroes, our donation to Sheffield Children’s wouldn’t have been possible.”

John Armstrong, CEO of The Children’s Hospital Charity, said:

“We’re incredibly excited about the helipad opening, having watched it being built over the last year. Projects like this are a testament to the amazing, committed supporters of both the HELP Appeal and The Children’s Hospital Charity.

“It’s been wonderful to work with HELP Appeal to make the helipad become a reality that will reduce delays for patients who need urgent critical care whilst offering privacy and dignity.”

In Yorkshire alone, there have been over 2,100 landings so far on the helipads the HELP Appeal has funded at Sheffield Northern General (695), Leeds General Infirmary (1,122), Hull Royal Infirmary (244) and Scarborough Hospital (43).

It has funded 45 hospital helipads in total which have seen over 27,000 landings. It has 60 more projects in the pipeline including a new helipad at Airedale Hospital in Keighley.