Manchester University NHS FT (MFT) have launched the first elevated helipad of its kind in the North West, which will enable critically ill or injured babies, children and adults to be airlifted straight to MFT hospitals in Manchester city centre.
This will make it possible to land just minutes away from specialist care at Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI) or Royal Manchester Children's Hospital (RMCH), in a situation where saving time would be critical. With the new helipad, patients will be transferred to MRI’s Emergency Department in less than three minutes, and to RMCH’s Paediatric Emergency Department in less than six minutes.
The new helicopter landing site on Oxford Road could allow as many as 300 patients to be airlifted to Oxford Road Campus (ORC) hospitals each year and is expected to save lives locally and regionally. This will help increase the chances of an improved level of recovery for many seriously ill or injured patients.
Alistair Rennie, Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Major Trauma at the MRI, and RMCH and Group Clinical Lead for emergency planning said: “As a consultant in Emergency Medicine, we know the quality and speed of specialist medical care following a major trauma injury is vital to ensuring patients have the best chance of a full recovery. In these situations, patients need to be transferred to a Major Trauma Centre, which we have on site here at the MRI and RMCH.
“I am delighted that this development is now a reality at MFT’s Oxford Road Campus, as for many patients our helipad could represent the difference between life and death.”
The MFT Charity’s Time Saves Lives Appeal, raised £3.9million towards the helipad in just 12 months.
This included £1.1million from the government’s LIBOR fines funds in the Chancellor’s Budget, and a donation of £1.36million from the County Air Ambulance Trust’s HELP (Helicopter Emergency Landing Pads) Appeal. The Charity also received a significant donation from The Stoller Charitable Trust.
Kathy Cowell, MFT Chairman said: “There are a number of big organisations who made this possible with their significant donations, but it is also important to acknowledge our families, local businesses and fundraising events which also made generous contributions too.
“I’d like to extend a big ‘thank you’ to all those people who ran a marathon, held a bake sale or took part in one of our Charity events. Every single person who made a donation is now helping save a life.”
Lorcan Duane, Paediatric Emergency Department Lead for Major Trauma at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital said: “The helipad will not only benefit children with major trauma injuries, but also children who need time critical transfers from other hospitals for specialist care and treatment at either RMCH or (Saint Mary’s Hospital) SMH.
“The speed with which a helicopter can transfer these types of patients is crucial and our new helipad will give air ambulance patients the safest and quickest place to land, directly at MFT.”
The helipad has been commissioned by the Air Ambulance Operators and inspected by the Civil Aviation Authority international (CAAi) to ensure it complies with the regulatory standards for helipads at hospital sites.
Image: Kathy Cowell, MFT Chairman
Andy Curran, Medical Director, North West Air Ambulance Charity said: “On-site helipads ensure patients can reach these centres incredibly quickly, and the MFT site helipad allows access to both adult and children’s Major Trauma Centres.
“It’s a significant step forward for the provision of enhanced pre-hospital care within Greater Manchester and the wider North West, and countless patients will benefit from this helipad in the years to come. A huge thank you to every single person that donated to and supported the new site. This will make a lifesaving difference to so many people.”
Once a helicopter has landed, patients will be safely off-loaded from the air ambulance by the team at the North West Air Ambulance Charity, and then transported via the high-level patient transfer corridor by specialist helipad transfer teams.
Tony Eggar, Senior Helipad Officer at MFT said: “Last month, we ran refresher training days for all staff working on the helipad. And going forward my role will be to ensure the highest standards are met and that the roof-top MFT helipad remains safe for all our patient transfers in the future.”
Previously air ambulances carrying critically ill or injured patients to hospitals on Oxford Road had to use a secondary landing site, a mile away in parkland. Patients were then transferred by road ambulances.
Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal said: “ Not only will the transfer of an air ambulance patient to the Emergency Departments, be much smoother and faster, greatly improving their chances of survival and recovery – but it will also eliminate the need for a secondary transfer by road ambulance, freeing up the North West Ambulance crew to help other patients in need across the region. Thank you to everyone that has supported our lifesaving mission.”
Main image: Alistair Rennie, Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Major Trauma at the MRI
