'Patients could die because of lack of helipad'

Patients are being put at an increased risk of dying because hospitals do not have helipads, an air ambulance charity has said.

Air ambulances taking patients to the Queen's Medical Centre, a major regional hospital in Nottingham, land nearly 2 miles away because there is no helipad on site.

Air Ambulances UK and others from across the sector are calling for round the clock on-site hospital helipads to be available at all major trauma centres and specialist hospitals across the country.

The CEO Mike McGrath said not having a helipad is a "major issue" and bringing them in would "make a seismic leap forward".

McGrath said: "The risk of [people dying] increases [if there's no helipad].

"It's a critical issue that we need to change.

"The air ambulance services that serve those patients are already absolutely fantastic.

"And this change would mean that those services can be delivered with even greater speed, with even greater accuracy.

"Every moment matters in making sure service is delivered as seamlessly and as quickly as possible."

Air ambulances arriving at the QMC currently land at the Highfields Sport Ground, and then transport patients across busy roads to the hospital, which takes about 10 minutes.

On days with major sporting events, they cannot land there at all.

Karen Jobling, CEO of Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance said: "Patients shouldn't face barriers to life-saving care because of how they arrive at the hospital".

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the QMC, said they had plans for a helipad under its "Tomorrow's NUH development", but it had been rescheduled until 2037.

The report prepared for MPs by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Air Ambulances found a "systemic gap" in hospital helipad access across the UK.

Out of the 43 major trauma centres and specialist hospitals assessed in the report, over half (53%) of the assessed sites were found to be either unable, or not "consistently able", to support full operational capability for 24/7 on-site helipad access.

While more than a third (37%) of hospital sites lacked 24/7 on-site access altogether or did not have an operational helipad.

The report, which included contributions from air ambulance charities and private companies in the sector, added that this "unresolved gap" in hospital helipad provision across the UK could "introduce delays to critical treatment and, in some cases, put lives at risk".

Amongst a number of recommendations, the report called for the introduction of "clear national NHS policy and standards" mandating that all existing and future MTCs and specialist hospitals have access to a safeguarded 24/7 on-site helipad.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "This government has put the New Hospital Programme on a stable long-term footing after inheriting a plan that was undeliverable.

"We've confirmed funding and a realistic timetable to deliver all schemes in the programme and are now working at pace to build these much-needed facilities as quickly as possible, ensuring taxpayers get maximum value for money.

"We will continue to work closely with the trust to ensure they are ready to enter construction as quickly as possible."

Listen to BBC Radio Nottingham on Sounds and follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.