Month: February 2025

Leicester Hospitals Charity is proud to announce the opening of a new, state-of-the-art helipad at the Glenfield Hospital.

This exciting development has been made possible thanks to a generous donation of more than £288,000 from the HELP Appeal – a charity dedicated to funding NHS hospital helipads.

Designed with a larger landing area to accommodate modern air ambulances and advanced lighting systems for nighttime landings, the new helipad will facilitate quicker and smoother emergency transfers to specialist departments, improving patient outcomes.

From left to right, Grace Broughton, Becky Cassidy, Hayley Lyon, Ian Julier, Matt Smith, and Robert Bertram cut the ribbon.

Grace Broughton, Capital Project Manager at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL), said: “We are fortunate to have a helipad at the Glenfield Hospital site, which was generously funded many years ago by our local charity partner HeartLink.

“When the HELP Appeal approached us about making upgrades in order to bring the existing facilities in line with the latest regulations and standards, we were delighted and grateful for their commitment to fund the whole project. It’s meant that we are able to ensure the highest level of care and safety for both patients and colleagues.”

The upgraded helipad is a vital part of the Trust’s commitment to providing top-tier emergency healthcare to the most critically ill patients in the East Midlands.

Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal, said: “Our supporters have been instrumental in making this project a reality. Their donations have ensured this helipad is meeting today’s standards, continuing to improve patient outcomes by enabling quick and safe transfers to and from the hospital in critical situations when time is of the essence.”

The new Glenfield Hospital helipad, which is likely to see around 40 landings each year, is the HELP Appeal’s first hospital helipad to open in 2025.

Sunita Patel, Head of Charity at Leicester Hospitals Charity, added: “We are incredibly grateful to the HELP Appeal and everyone involved in making this fantastic new helipad a reality.

“It’s thanks to the generous support of partner charities such as the HELP Appeal, that we’re able to make great things happen for UHL Together we are bringing vital improvements to healthcare facilities and ensuring the best possible care for patients in Leicester, Leicestershire, Rutland and the East Midlands.”

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