Southampton General Hospital and the Helicopter Emergency Landing pad are celebrating the first anniversary of the on-site helipad.
The site was officially on 17th November 2011 and within hours of being declared open and fit for purpose, the site had received its first two patient landings.
Peak periods
Between 9am and 6pm have been proven to be the most used period of time through the day, with over 250 landings to date between these times.
Fridays and Sundays have generally seen the most landings, with 40-41 respectively to date. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance has been the most frequent user with 206 landings.
Helipad helped hundreds of critically ill patients
Robert Bertram, Charity Director at County Air Ambulance Trust, HELP Appeal, said, “This is a really special day for us. Southampton General Hospital was the first major project that we funded as part of our national HELP Appeal scheme and the statistics speak for themselves, it’s been a real success. The helipad has helped hundreds of critically ill and injured patients from across the region to get to the specialist treatment they as quickly as possible”
‘Golden hour’
Prior to the helipad, travelling to Southampton General meant landing in Lordshill playing fields, and then further travel by road for two miles.
A transfer like this could use up 30 minutes of the ‘Golden Hour’ commonly known as the first 60 minutes after following critical illness or injury.
The HELP Appeal
The HELP Appeal relies on charitable donations and fundraising efforts.
They’re are calling on their local community to get behind them and donate whatever they can, to help them to continuing saving lives.
Donate on the website www.helpappeal.co.uk or by calling 0800 3898 999.
