Jordan Ellis
London is home to several hospitals with helipads, which are crucial for providing rapid and specialised care to patients in emergency situations. These helipads enable quick transfer and access to world-class medical facilities, saving precious time and lives. One notable example is the Royal London Hospital, which houses London's Air Ambulance service and boasts a 284-foot-high helipad, offering stunning views of the city. King's College Hospital, another prominent hospital, has a helipad that serves a trauma population of 4.5 million across southeast London and Kent. These hospitals are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and dedicated medical teams, ensuring that patients receive timely and expert treatment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of hospitals with helipads in London | 3 |
| Names of hospitals with helipads in London | The Royal London Hospital, King's College Hospital, Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH), and St Thomas' |
| Height of helipad at The Royal London Hospital | 284ft |
| Area of helipad at The Royal London Hospital | 28m2 |
| Location of helipad at The Royal London Hospital | Rooftop on the 17th floor |
| Year of opening of helipad at King's College Hospital | 2016 |
| Number of patients received at King's College Hospital helipad as of 26 October 2021 | 1,123 |
| Number of night landings at King's College Hospital helipad as of March 2019 | 181 |
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What You'll Learn
King's College Hospital's helipad
The King's College Hospital helipad has been operational since October 2016. The helipad was made possible by a multi-million-pound donation from the County Air Ambulance HELP Appeal, as well as donations from over 2,600 patients, staff, and members of the local community. The helipad is built on top of the hospital's 10-storey Ruskin Wing at Denmark Hill.
The helipad has transformed trauma care across south-east London and Kent, serving a population of 4.5 million people. It has reduced 'landing-to-resus' transfer times to just five minutes, a process that previously took up to 25 minutes. The helipad is part of the South East London, Kent and Medway (SELKaM) Major Trauma Network, with King's College Hospital serving as the hub Major Trauma Centre.
The helipad operates 24/7, ensuring that patients have access to highly specialised, timely treatment regardless of the time of day. On average, one to two air ambulances land at King's at night each week. The night landings have saved up to 90 minutes in transfer time for patients on the Kent coast.
The helipad has received more than a thousand patients requiring life-saving care. It has aided the rapid transfer of patients following road traffic accidents, falls, strokes, heart attacks, and other time-critical medical emergencies.
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Royal London Hospital's helipad
London is home to some of the world's leading hospitals, and a select few of these have helipads. The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, East London, is one of them. The Royal London Hospital helipad is situated on top of the 17th floor of the new building, standing at 284 ft high, making it one of the highest in Europe. It is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including flood and perimeter lighting, a firefighting system, and drainage piping.
The helipad is an essential asset to the hospital, serving as the base for London's Air Ambulance, which is the world's leading air ambulance service. The helipad allows for rapid patient transfers, reducing the 'landing-to-resus' transfer time to just five minutes, a process that previously took up to 25 minutes. The rooftop helipad is 28m2 in size and features an 80m walkway, providing quick access to the Emergency Department. A super-fast elevator enables patients to be transferred from the rooftop to the Emergency Department in just two minutes.
The Royal London Hospital was the only multi-disciplinary hospital in London with a suitable site for a rooftop helipad. The helipad has been in operation since 1989, but the move to the new hospital and helipad took ten years of planning and development. The new helipad is a significant upgrade, providing enhanced capabilities for the air ambulance service and improving patient care.
The helipad plays a crucial role in serving the local community, particularly in East London, which includes some of the most deprived communities in the UK. The combination of the helipad and the hospital's trauma and emergency care centre ensures that patients have access to timely and high-quality medical attention. The helipad has transformed trauma care across London, enabling patients to receive expert treatment promptly.
The Royal London Hospital helipad is an excellent example of how infrastructure can significantly impact healthcare services. By providing a base for London's Air Ambulance, the helipad ensures that patients across London can receive rapid medical attention, improving their chances of recovery and survival. The helipad's height and advanced facilities contribute to its ability to support critical care and emergency responses.
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The importance of helipads for trauma care
In London, there are currently three hospitals with helipads: King's College Hospital, Princess Royal University Hospital, and St Thomas'. The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel also has a helipad, though it is unclear whether it is still in use.
Helipads are critical for trauma care as they significantly reduce the time it takes for patients to receive treatment, increasing the likelihood of a positive outcome. They are especially important for patients in remote or hard-to-reach areas, providing an alternative and faster route for patient transport. For example, the helipad at King's College Hospital has reduced 'landing-to-resus' transfer times to just five minutes, a process that previously took up to 25 minutes. Night landings at King's College Hospital have also saved up to 90 minutes in transfer time for patients on the Kent coast.
Helipads also ensure that hospitals are accessible even from congested areas, offering a faster route for patient transport than road ambulances, which may get stuck in traffic. Helicopters can traverse large distances in minimal time, making them invaluable for patients requiring immediate medical intervention, such as those suffering from strokes or severe trauma.
Additionally, air ambulances come equipped with state-of-the-art medical facilities, allowing for life-saving treatments to be administered during the flight to the medical centre. The quality of care provided on board should be comparable to that of a patient in an ambulance. This means that patients can receive critical care while in transit, improving their chances of recovery.
The presence of a helipad also impacts the efficiency of hospital-to-hospital transfers, which account for a significant number of patient care episodes. They also enable the safe and swift transfer of patients between hospitals, ensuring they receive the specialised care they need as quickly as possible.
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The fundraising and planning behind helipads
Helipads are essential for hospitals, especially those in remote or congested areas, as they offer an alternative and faster route for patient transport. They are also invaluable for patients requiring immediate medical intervention, such as those suffering from strokes or severe trauma.
However, creating a hospital helipad is no easy feat. It requires careful consideration of various factors, such as weight capacity, wind direction, and proximity to the emergency room. One of the critical challenges is ensuring that the building can structurally support the weight of both the helipad and the helicopter. This challenge is even more significant when the helipad is located on the rooftop, as is the case for some hospitals in London.
The fundraising efforts for hospital helipads are often led by charities and community initiatives. For example, the HELP Appeal is the only charity in the UK solely dedicated to funding the construction of hospital helipads. They have funded helipads for NHS hospitals across the country, including a £2.75 million donation to King's College Hospital in London. Another initiative, Helipads for Hospitals (H4H), collects aluminium cans for recycling, aiming to build helipads with the recycled material.
Planning for a helipad involves several crucial considerations. Firstly, the location must be carefully selected, taking into account the urban environment and local terrain to ensure safe operations. The helipad should be situated away from buildings, power lines, and parking garages, and not too close to the MRI area of the hospital, as these can create turbulence or interfere with helicopter instrumentation. Additionally, hospitals must implement robust policies and procedures for the safe and efficient use of the helipad, including training for personnel on security and safety issues.
Furthermore, helipads require specialised lighting systems to facilitate nighttime operations. In Europe, Touchdown and Positioning Markings (TDPM) lights are mandatory for rooftop helipads, while other standard lights include perimeter lights, floodlights, and status and repeater lights. Hospitals must also consider fire suppression systems, with the industry moving towards Deck Integrated Fire Fighting systems that have nozzles fitted into the decking for superior fire-fighting capabilities.
Overall, the successful implementation of a hospital helipad requires significant fundraising efforts, careful planning, and adherence to stringent safety guidelines. By doing so, hospitals can provide quicker access to emergency medical care, ultimately saving lives.
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Other hospitals in the helipad network
The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel is home to London's Air Ambulance, which operates from a 284ft high helipad, one of the highest in Europe. The Royal London Hospital is the only multidisciplinary hospital with a rooftop helipad.
King's College Hospital
The helipad at King's College Hospital is one of only three helipads in London. It has received more than a thousand patients requiring life-saving care since its launch in October 2016. The helipad has transformed trauma care across south-east London and Kent, serving a population of 4.5 million people. It has reduced 'landing-to-resus' transfer times to just five minutes, a process that used to take up to 25 minutes before the helipad was built. The helipad was made possible thanks to a multi-million-pound donation from the County Air Ambulance HELP Appeal, as well as donations from patients, staff, and members of the local community.
Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH)
Princess Royal University Hospital is part of the SELKaM trauma network, which serves a population of 5.5 million people across south-east London and Kent.
St Thomas' Hospital
St Thomas' Hospital is also part of the SELKaM trauma network.
The helipads at these hospitals have improved access to timely, specialised treatment for patients across London and the South East, saving both time and lives.
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Frequently asked questions
There are three hospitals in London with helipads. These are King's College Hospital, Princess Royal University Hospital, and The Royal London Hospital.
The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel has one of the highest helipads in Europe at 284ft, which is almost the same height as Big Ben.
The helipad at King's College Hospital opened in October 2016, following a five-year planning project.
Helipads at hospitals reduce transfer times for patients, ensuring they receive timely treatment. For example, the helipad at King's College Hospital has reduced 'landing-to-resus' transfer times to five minutes, a process that previously took up to 25 minutes.
