Leeds trauma centre now accepting night flights thanks to helipad donation

Published: 15-Nov-2017

HELP Appeal funds new lighting and fire safety equipment at Leeds trauma centre

Seriously-ill or injured patients from across Yorkshire are benefitting from extended air ambulance flying hours following a donation to the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Over £123,000 was donated by the HELP Appeal, a national charity set up to help provide major trauma centres with the necessary new or upgraded base infrastructure to enable night landing and so support the specialist skills of the pilots and clinical teams.

The donation has been used to fund important lighting and firefighting equipment for the helideck at the Leeds General Infirmary, which is enabling air ambulances to land later into the evening, therefore increasing access to the major trauma centre.

Leeds is one of 22 major trauma centres in England providing round-the-clock life-saving treatment for seriously-injured patients from West Yorkshire (adults), and Yorkshire and Humber (children). Often, patients are flown in to the service by air ambulance because of the extent of their injuries and the need for rapid treatment.

Professor Peter Giannoudis, professor of trauma and orthopaedic surgery at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “The HELP Appeal’s kind donation will have a huge impact on patient care.

“It will facilitate the prompt transfer of seriously-injured patients to Leeds major trauma centre, allowing the medical staff to intervene early, save lives and reduce morbidity.”

Linda Pollard OBE, chairman of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, added: “The HELP Appeal has been instrumental in facilitating the extension of our helideck capabilities, which is ensuring we can truly deliver world-class major trauma services to the people of Yorkshire.”

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