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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