A new report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Air Ambulances has highlighted significant variation in hospital helipad provision across the UK and is calling for safeguarded 24/7 on-site access at all Major Trauma Centres and specialist hospitals.
The Air Ambulance Service contributed to and supports the report – Critical Moments, Life-Saving Infrastructure: The Case for Safeguarded 24/7 On-Site Hospital Helipads – which assesses 43 hospitals and identifies a clear national infrastructure gap, with over half of sites unable to consistently support full 24/7 on-site helipad access.
Overall, over half of the assessed sites (53%) are either unable, or not consistently able, to support full operational capability for 24/7 on-site helipad access. Separately, more than a third (37%) of hospital sites either lack 24/7 on-site access altogether or do not have an operational helipad. In addition, there are seven hospitals which currently do, or within this current year will, require a new helipad.
Where on-site access is unavailable, air ambulances are often required to land at secondary off-site locations, introducing delays into the transfer of critically ill or injured patients into specialist care.
The UK’s air ambulance charities rely on NHS infrastructure to complete the patient journey into hospital and receive no routine Government funding, instead depending on public donations to deliver pre-hospital emergency care.
The report calls for coordinated Government action across the Department of Health and Social Care, the Department for Transport, and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to address the infrastructure gap and embed hospital helipads as standard NHS provision.
It also recommends strengthened planning policy, consistent aviation safety standards, and the establishment of a national contingency funding mechanism to support delivery where required.
A special parliamentary reception was held at the House of Commons on 2 June, which attracted support from key political figures to raise awareness of the lifesaving work of the UK’s air ambulance charities. More than 50 Members of Parliament attended the gathering, organised by Air Ambulances UK (AAUK), the national charity supporting the lifesaving work of the UK’s 21 air ambulance charities.
Mike McGrath, Chief Executive of Air Ambulances UK, said: “Access to safeguarded 24/7 on-site hospital helipads at Major Trauma Centres and specialist hospitals remains inconsistent across the UK, despite decades of recognition of this issue. For air ambulance services, this reality directly affects how efficiently patients can receive specialist care. This report demonstrates the evidence, operational experience and proven delivery models that exist. What’s needed now is clear national direction and coordination from Government to ensure this gap is addressed comprehensively and consistently across the UK – so every patient has equitable access to life-saving care, regardless of location.”
A public petition has now been launched calling for safeguarded 24/7 hospital helipad access across all Major Trauma Centres and specialist hospitals. The campaign is encouraging members of the public to show their support and help build momentum for change.
