The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital’s helipad in Oswestry opened 15 years’ ago this month, after HELP Appeal donated £400,000 to cover its entire upgrade. Since then, it has seen 1,187 landings which have included patients with serious spinal injuries, who have been flown directly to the hospital to receive specialist care.

The much-needed donation from the charity funded a covered walkway, which extends from the helipad to the hospital entrance, ensuring every patient has a smooth and dignified transfer. Funding also covered the installation of helipad lighting, which enables patients to be brought to the hospital at any time of the day or night – a must for the shorter days throughout the Autumn and Winter months.

Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal says:

“This helipad was the first one funded by our charity when we embarked on our mission in 2009. From the very beginning, our aim has been to provide critically ill patients with swift access to hospital care right after landing, as every second counts in life-saving situations. It’s truly remarkable to witness the lasting difference this helipad has made in patient care and outcomes, highlighting the vital role these facilities play during medical emergencies.”

Since this upgrade in 2009, the charity has gone on to fund 50 helipads across the country, including in Shrewsbury and Telford, which have received over 29,000 landings. It still has over 50 hospital helipads in the pipeline to fund including in Salford, Sheffield Children’s and Dorchester, Dorset.