– Lifesaving hospital helipad sees more than 200 landings in first two years

More than 200 critically injured people from across Cheshire and Merseyside have benefitted from a Liverpool hospital’s helipad since it opened two years ago today (3^rd July 2019).

The £1m helipad at Aintree University Hospital, which became operational in July 2017, means paramedics from the North West Air Ambulance are able to transfer patients to the hospital’s Urgent Care and Trauma Centre within minutes.

Previously, air ambulances had to land on the playing fields on Lower Lane, after which a road ambulance was sent to transfer patients to the hospital. This process could add up to half an hour to the journey at a time when every second counts

Aintree, together with neuro specialists at the Walton Centre, is home to the regional major trauma centre which sees patients sometimes bypass their local hospital to be brought directly to Liverpool for urgent specialist care which isn’t necessarily available in their local hospital.

Mr 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 counts. Being able to minimise the transfer time has made a huge difference to our patients and has help us save more lives.”

The helipad was funded by the HELP Appeal, which has been providing significant grants to fund life-saving helipads since 2009.

Steve Warburton, Chief Executive at Aintree, said: “Our major trauma team does an outstanding job treating and caring for some of the most seriously injured people in our region. The helipad has dramatically improved the speed with which patients are able to access care, which means we are able to assess and treat patients sooner, giving them the best chance of recovery. I’d like to again thank the HELP Appeal for funding the helipad, on behalf of all those who have benefited from it.”

Robert Bertram, CEO of the HELP Appeal, said: “Everyone is aware of the vital roles that hospitals and air ambulances play in treating a critically ill patient, but having a helipad beside the emergency department can play a significant part in saving vital minutes when transporting a patient to the expert care they need to save their lives. It’s great to see the real difference it’s made to patients.”