A new lifesaving helipad has been opened on the Isle of Mull.
The landing site is adjacent to Mull and Iona Community Hospital and will provide emergency access for air ambulances and coastguard helicopters.
The state-of-the-art helipad will eliminate the need for patients to be transferred by land ambulance to Glenfossa Airport, which is only 15 minutes’ drive away.
It is hoped that treatment from mainland specialist hospitals can be obtained within the “golden time” to improve the patient’s treatment results.
Picture: Help Appeal/Iain Erskine
Picture: Help Appeal/Iain Erskine
The land was donated by Andy and Naomi Knight and the charity Helicopter Emergency Landing Site (HELP) is appealing for donations of £418,000 to pay for the project.
Construction began in May last year.
Mull and Iona Community Trust will assume responsibility for the helipad and will be responsible for ensuring its future condition and maintenance.
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Picture: Help Appeal/Moray Finch
Cheryl-Ann Paterson, senior nurse manager at NHS Highland Mull and Iona Community Hospital, said: “We are very grateful to the Help Appeal for providing our new helipad 100% financial support.
“This will have such a huge impact on the health outcomes of our patients and the entire NHS team across the island is united in our gratitude.”
The Appeal for Help, run by County Air Ambulance Trusts, provides grants to major trauma centers and hospitals across the UK to fund new helipads or upgrades to existing helipads.
exist ScotlandThe appeal has provided funding for helipads at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, Raigmore Hospital in Inverness and Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
currently Construction of a helipad on Guiga Islandwith the help of British Army soldiers.
Robert Bertram, chief executive of HELP Appeal, said: “This helipad is a game-changer for the local community.
“When you are seriously ill, delays in leaving the island for treatment at a major trauma or acute hospital on the mainland can have serious consequences.
“This new helipad greatly speeds up access, which means more lives can be saved and demonstrates the commitment of Help Call to build another life-saving helipad in Scotland.”
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