St Mary’s Hospital helipad on the Isle of Wight, which was officially launched in 2013 by HRH Duke of Kent, has seen 1448 landings by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance and HM Coastguard. On average, that’s over three landings every week.

The helipad cost £1.45m to build nine years ago, of which the HELP Appeal contributed £250,000. The helipad currently flies patients with a serious illness or injury from across the island directly to St. Mary’s Hospital and if required, onto the helipad also funded by the HELP Appeal, at Southampton General Hospital, a Major Trauma Centre, or to other specialist centres across the country.

Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal says:

“This huge number of landings reiterates how much this helipad is needed in the region. They were made by patients in air ambulance and coastguard helicopters who needed treatment in the quickest possible time, to help their chances of survival and recovery. Without a helipad in place, the delays could have put their health in even greater jeopardy.”

Isle of Wight resident Carol suffered a bleed on the brain and needed urgent treatment at Southampton General Hospital. She explains:

“If there had been no helipads, I dread to think how much longer my journey might have taken and potentially how much bumpier the ride would have been, if I’d had to finish the journey in a road ambulance.

“Thanks to the HELP Appeal I had two helipads available, which helped me to access emergency treatment quickly and saved my life.”