Air Ambulance Northern Ireland landed for the first time on the helipad, which is on the roof of the Hospital’s critical care building.

At the moment, patients are taken to the helicopter landing site at Musgrave Park Hospital before being transferred to RVH by ambulance. The new helipad means that patients can be transferred straight to the building instead of having to make the journey from Musgrave Park Hospital.

It is believed that the direct landing site will reduce patient travelling time by approximately 25 minutes

“Being able to bring the patient from the scene to here without any second transfer is a game changer," said Glenn O'Rorke of Air Ambulance Northern Ireland.

Health Minister Robin Swann said the helipad ‘would save lives and make a big, big difference to the people of Northern Ireland’. "The air ambulance landing pad is a fantastic example of how we can actually deliver," he stated.

Air Ambulance Northern Ireland Chief Executive Michael Bloomfield welcomed the opening of the helipad saying: “The commissioning of the new helipad represents another step forward in trauma care for the population of Northern Ireland.”