HELP Appeal announces 20,000 landings at helipads it funded
The HELP Appeal, a UK-based charity provides funding for helipads at National Health Service (NHS) hospitals, has announced that over 20,000 landings have been made on helipads they funded
To mark the occasion, the charity has launched a fundraising campaign, the ’20,000 steps for landings’ challenge, which encourages people to reach 20,000 steps (approximately nine miles) in one day, to help raise money for HELP Appeal’s future helipad projects.
The 20,000th patient to arrive via a HELP Appeal helipad is Dave Matravers, a competitive motorcyclist and a podium finisher at the Isle of Man Grand Prix, who was transported to King’s College Hospital following an incident at Brands Hatch racetrack.
During a warmup lap, his motorbike became ‘temperamental’ and stalled suddenly. Another motorcyclist travelling at around 70mph collided with him as a result, with Matravers being knocked off his bike and into the path of a third rider.
“I knew then that my legs had snapped, and I was in a pretty bad way,” said Matravers. “But I thought if I could just pull myself forward with my arms, I could straighten my legs. But the medics, who were straight on the scene told me not to move. I was dropping in and out of consciousness, not sure whether I was dead or alive.”
According to Dave, his legs ‘were a little messed up’, but the role of the HELP Appeal funded helipad at King’s College Hospital was ‘huge’ in getting him to emergency care quickly.
The charity has donated £40 million to hospitals since 2009
Since 2009, the charity has donated over £40 million to hospitals across the UK, for 45 helipads. This includes 25 new helipads - including at King’s College Hospital, Aintree University Hospital, and Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Glasgow – a well as major upgrades to 20 more – including at Royal Preston Hospital, Leeds General Infirmary and Raigmore Hospital, Inverness.
This includes 10 new or upgraded helipads becoming operational in the past three years, including four at Major Trauma Centres, supported by over £5 million in donations from the appeal.
In 2020, helipads were opened at Hull Royal Infirmary, Hereford County Hospital, and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. In 2021, helipads were opened at Manchester University Hospital, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Campbeltown Hospital, and in Applecross, in the Scottish Highlands.
So far in 2022, new and upgraded helipads have become operational at Scarborough Hospital, Peterborough City Hospital and Coventry University Hospital.
The HELP Appeal added that over 40 more helipad projects worth a combined total of £30 million are being targeted for support over the next five years. The appeal is currently funding a helipad at Airedale General in Keighley, West Yorkshire, which will open later this year; and at Sheffield Children’s Hospital and Salford Royal Hospital, which will open in 2023.
Upgrades to existing helipads which will be supported by the charity are planned for Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle; and University Hospital Crosshouse, Kilmarnock. Both are expected to reopen this year.
HELP Appeal’s Chief Executive, Robert Bertram said: “As the only charity in the country funding helipads at NHS Hospitals, we are dedicated to helping to save lives and it is enormously rewarding to have achieved this milestone figure on the 25 new helipads we have funded. In addition to this are the 20 helipads we have helped to improve by funding larger and night lit helipads which accommodate night flying, bigger helicopters and helping to save even more lives.
“Our door is always open to hospitals that may wish to fund a new or upgraded helipad in the future. These projects can take months or years to come to fruition, so the sooner we are contacted the better,” he added.