Maidstone Hospital helipad reopens after major upgrade funded by HELP Appeal

Maidstone Hospital’s helipad has officially reopened following a significant upgrade to meet the latest UK standards for emergency landing sites. The improvements were made possible by a generous donation of over £170,000 from the HELP Appeal – the UK’s only charity solely dedicated to funding National Health Service (NHS) hospital helipads.

The enhanced facility will continue to play a vital role in the rapid transfer of critically ill patients to and from Maidstone Hospital, in the southeast of England, including flights to Major Trauma Centers such as King’s College Hospital in London, which also received helipad funding from the HELP Appeal. The site also provides a safe, 24/7 landing zone for air ambulances responding to emergencies in the community, enabling seamless transfers between helicopter and road ambulances, even after dark.

Enhancements include the installation of state-of-the-art lighting to enable night landings, new fencing and safety barriers, and a high-visibility bright green surface to comply with national regulations. The addition of green aviation lighting ensures the helipad can continue operating around the clock to support lifesaving missions.

Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal, said: “We’re proud to have funded these essential upgrades at Maidstone Hospital. Every second counts in a medical emergency, and having a modern, safe and fully operational helipad can make a lifesaving difference.”

Miles Scott, Chief Executive at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, added: “We are extremely grateful to HELP Appeal for their generous donation, which has allowed us to install fantastic improvements to our helipad.”

First opened in 2019 by the Princess Royal after a £300,000 donation from the HELP Appeal, the helipad has supported over 170 air ambulance landings. Nationally, the charity has now funded 55 helipads, supporting over 29,000 landings across the UK.

The HELP Appeal recently donated £600,000 to support the construction of a new helipad at the NSECH in Cramlington, in the northeast of England.