Today, Sheffield Children’s hospital has opened its brand new helipad to receive children in need of urgent care, following a £6 million fundraising campaign, of which the HELP Appeal donated £2.8 million.
Thanks to the charity along with other support streams the 18 month build has been completed and the helipad is ready to provide children and young people with a direct route to our Emergency Department, where they can receive the care they need.
Ruth Brown, Chief Executive of Sheffield Children’s, said:
“In the week that Sheffield Children’s celebrates its 148th birthday, we are delighted to share that we have lift off! We have been providing care for children and young people for 148 years and what remains constant is that we’re always looking for ways to innovate and improve the way we care for children.”
Sheffield Children’s is the only Major Trauma Centre and specialist paediatric hospital covering South Yorkshire, Bassetlaw, North Derbyshire and North Lincolnshire that receives children under 16 years of age, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The addition of the new helipad will give patients privacy and dignity as they arrive at Sheffield Children’s to receive vital and urgent care.
Photo: Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal with Ruth Brown, Chief Executive, Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.
Ruth Brown said:
“By building this helipad, we are making it easier for helicopters to land at Sheffield Children’s and we’re enhancing the quality of care that children receive when they suffer a major trauma. We are also future proofing our emergency services and making sure that Sheffield Children’s can continue to be recognised as a Major Trauma Centre, caring for children from across the region.
“I want to say thank you to everyone who has worked tirelessly to create the helipad, a vital asset to children’s healthcare in the region which will provide a safe place to land for any child that needs it.”
Photo: Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal with Peter Knowles, Estates Director, Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.
Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal, added:
“Ten years ago, we began discussions with Sheffield Children’s, and thanks to the incredible support of our donors, we are proud to have contributed over £2.8 million to the Sheffield Children’s helipad. Our donation has helped make the construction of this state-of-the-art helipad a reality at one of only five specialist children’s Major Trauma Centres in the country, ensuring children and young people will receive the urgent care they need as quickly as possible.”
Sheffield Children’s Hospital needed a specialist helipad to make sure children and young people experienced the best possible landing if they arrived by helicopter, in need of urgent care. Previously helicopters landed in Weston Park opposite the hospital, with medical crews having to transfer patients a ross the busy A57 to access the Sheffield Children’s Emergency Department.
The new helipad is a welcome addition to Sheffield Children’s, and you can watch the almost true story of how it was created in: Landing a big idea – the (almost) true story of Sheffield Children’s helipad.
Photo: Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal; Ruth Brown, Chief Executive, Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and John Armstrong, CEO, The Children’s Hospital Charity.
