Leeds major trauma centre now accepting night flights
The donation has been used to fund important lighting and fire-fighting equipment on the helideck at the Leeds General Infirmary.
Seriously ill or injured patients are benefitting from extended air ambulance flying hours thanks to a donation to the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Over £132,000 was donated by the HELP Appeal, a national charity set up to help provide UK major trauma centres like Leeds with the necessary new or upgraded base infrastructure to enable night landing and so support the specialist skills of the pilots and clinical teams.
The donation has been used to fund important lighting and fire-fighting equipment on the helideck at the Leeds General Infirmary, which is enabling helicopters to land later into the evening, therefore increasing access.
One of 22 major trauma centres in England, the Leeds centre provides 24-hour life-saving treatment for seriously injured adult patients from West Yorkshire, as well as children from across Yorkshire and Humber. Often, patients are flown in to the service by air ambulance because of the extent of their injuries and the need for rapid treatment, said the HELP Appeal.
Professor Peter Giannoudis, professor of trauma and orthopaedic surgery at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “The HELP Appeal’s kind donation will have a huge impact on patient care. It will facilitate the prompt transfer of seriously injured patients to Leeds Major Trauma Centre allowing the medical staff to intervene early, save lives and reduce morbidity. All the staff at the Major Trauma Centre are delighted with this advancement.”
Linda Pollard, chair of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, added: “The HELP Appeal has been instrumental in facilitating the extension of our helideck capabilities, which is ensuring we can truly deliver world class major trauma services to the people of Yorkshire.”