THE helipad at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) has been upgraded in a £180,000 project.
A new high-friction surface was installed on the helipad to ensure it can be used safely in all but the ‘very worst’ weather, with the project coming thanks to a donation by the HELP Appeal which is a charity dedicated to funding NHS hospital helipads.
The helipad at QEUH accepts some of the sickest and most seriously injured patients from around Scotland so they can receive care from the range highly specialised teams based at the QEUH campus.
Last week, members of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) staff joined Simon Jones, helipad technical lead of the HELP Appeal, on the helipad to see the completed work and to formally accept the appeal’s funding for the project.
The project also allowed for the opportunity to change the hospital name identifier on the helipad from NSGH (New South Glasgow Hospital) to QEU HOSPITAL, with the hospital originally being called the South Glasgow Hospital whilst it was under construction.
However, the name changed to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital when Elizabeth II performed the royal opening in 2015 and the upgrade work has allowed the board to change the name on the helipad.
In addition, in the new year NHSGGC will carry out a second phase of the work, where additional high-quality lighting will be added to ensure even greater visibility for helicopter crews as they come into land. The HELP Appeal’s funding will also cover the cost of this.
Euan Smith, sector estates manager at NHSGGC, said, “The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital is a nationally important centre caring for some of the sickest and most seriously injured patients from throughout the country.
“The helipad is critical to this care, accepting patients ranging from major trauma cases to highly complex maternity cases from remote areas of the country.
“This upgrade work will help us to continue to provide this service into the future, and I would like to thank all those within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde for their hard work in planning for and delivering the project, partners including the Scottish Ambulance Service for their flexibility and co-operation, and the HELP Appeal for their generosity and help in funding the project.”
Robert Bertram, chief executive of the HELP Appeal, added, “We are proud to support this helipad, which has facilitated over 2,700 landings since its opening, making it one of the busiest in the country.
“We were eager to ensure it continues to operate at the highest standards, providing the capability to receive air ambulances carrying critically ill patients at any hour – day or night – so they can access urgent care in the Emergency Department without delay. Thanks to our supporters for making it possible.”
