One of the most important, yet least seen, aspects of the services provided by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) has undergone a makeover worth more than £180,000.
The helipad on the roof of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (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 on the QEUH campus.
And last week, members of 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 HELP Appeal – the only charity in the country dedicated to funding NHS hospital helipads – provided a total of £183,047 for the project.
The work, which took place earlier this autumn, involved the installation of a new high-friction surface on the helipad, so it can be used safely in all but the very worst weather.
At the same time, the opportunity was taken to change the hospital name identifier from NSGH (New South Glasgow Hospital) to QEU HOSPITAL.
When the hospital was being built, it was originally called the South Glasgow Hospital, so that was the name printed on the helipad.
However, that 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 in to land. The HELP Appeal’s funding will also cover the cost of this.
In 2022, the hospital helipad played a starring role in the Channel 4 documentary series Rescue: Extreme Medics, a series of shows that followed the work of the Scottish Trauma Network.
The Network is a team of clinicians, helicopter pilots and ambulance crews based in Glasgow and throughout the country, who rush to serious accidents to provide highly specialised care and to get patients to Major Trauma Centres at hospitals including the QEUH and the neighbouring Royal Hospital for Children.
During the upgrade, incoming helicopters were redirected to land at Glasgow Airport, meaning that the care provided by the hospital, and the Major Trauma Centre in particular, were not significantly affected by the work.
Euan Smith, Sector Estates Manager at NHSGGC, was instrumental in securing the funding for the work from the HELP Appeal. He 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.”
For more information on the work of the Scottish Trauma Network, go to: Scottish Trauma Network | Saving Lives. Giving Life Back.
For more information on the HELP Appeal, please visit: helpappeal.org.uk
Caption – top picture:
From left – Graham Christie, General Manager, Emergency and Acute Medicine, QEUH; Nicola Baxter, Lead Nurse, Emergency Department, QEUH; Daniel Martin, Trainee Estates Manager, NHSGGC; Gary Armstrong, Security/Fire Team Member, QEUH; Euan Smith, Estates Manager, QEUH; Simon Jones, Helipad Technical Lead, HELP Appeal; Ross McFarlane, Logistics and Security Manager, QEUH; David Kelly, Assistant Head of Facilities, QEUH
