BAM has completed what it says is the first rooftop helipad in the country with direct access to emergency services.
Thanks to a £2 million donation from the HELP Appeal, construction of a helipad on top of the first standalone Major Trauma Hospital in the UK – at Salford Royal Hospital – is now complete. The donation, made from the HELP Appeal to North Care, the official charity of Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, has funded the development of the country’s first rooftop helipad in with direct access to a lift down to the Emergency Department.
The helipad is made purely from aluminium, including the support structure, and has been constructed with almost 1,000 bolts, so is able to hold a 8600 kg. Built on top of the Greater Manchester Major Trauma Hospital on the Salford Royal Hospital site, the square helipad deck is approximately 26.4 m2 in size.
Stuart Loftus, Construction Manager at BAM Construction, said: “The team is extremely proud that the helipad has been completed on time, and to our high standards. It’s another milestone towards the Major Trauma Hospital being ready to accept patients by Summer 2023.”
The helipad is due to become operational when the Major Trauma Hospital opens in June 2023, with an anticipated 360 landings every year. “We’re delighted to have received support from the HELP Appeal to construct the helipad, which will have a huge impact on our ability to treat the most seriously injured patients from across the North West,” said Eimhear Quinn, Emergency Department consultant and Air Ambulance doctor. Fundraising continues to develop the RAPTOR Theatre within the Major Trauma Hospital, ensuring that we can provide the best possible care for those with multi-trauma injuries, increasing their chances of survival and recovery”.
The RAPTOR Theatre will prioritise multi-trauma patients giving them the best possible chance of survival. The equipment for it will cost £1.4 million, and the NorthCare charity is asking communities across Greater Manchester to support it to raise funds for the ‘pioneering project’. Available seven days a week, the theatre is expected to treat around 1550 patients annually.
