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29 August 2013

Work on the helipad finishes

Work on the construction of the new helipad on the roof of the Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI) has finished.

The helipad will open in 2014 as part of a wider programme of work currently underway across the BRI by University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (UH Bristol), which incorporates a new ward block and Welcome Centre. 

Professor Jonathan Benger, consultant in emergency medicine at the BRI, said: "The helipad will enable patients to be transferred rapidly and efficiently to specialist services in our hospitals from throughout the South West and will increase their chance of survival and a good recovery. 

"It will support UH Bristol to fulfil its role as the Paediatric Major Trauma Centre for the South West and the Regional Centre for Primary Angioplasty [emergency treatment for a heart attack]." 

Deborah Lee, director of strategic development at UH Bristol, said: "We are delighted that the helipad has been built on time and in budget, and that it complies with Civil Aviation Authority design standards. 

"The construction team will now complete all the electrical and mechanical services of the installation to make the helipad fully functional by the New Year. The next steps will then be to ensure the helipad is tested by the air ambulance operators ahead of its opening." 

The helipad will connect directly to the adult Emergency Department as well as to services within the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. The Bristol Heart Institute will also receive patients transferred by helicopter for cardiac treatment. 

A grant of £500,000 has been provided by the HELP (Helicopter Emergency Landing Pads) Appeal to support the helipad's construction.


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