Lifesaving ‘helideck’ racks up 2,389 landings since opening
A charity has announced there have been 2,389 helicopter landings on a hospital’s helicopter deck since it first opened.
The HELP Appeal announced the figures yesterday, on the seventh anniversary of King’s College Hospital’s “helideck” in Denmark Hill, Camberwell.
The hospital – which serves as a major trauma centre for South-east London and Kent – has seen landings from the London Air Ambulance as well as the Air Ambulance Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
Robert Bertram, chief executive of the HELP Appeal said: “With nearly one landing every day, this lifesaving helideck is one of the busiest in the country.”
Before the Helideck was made, air ambulances had to land some distance away and patients were transferred to the hospital by road ambulance for the final part of the journey.Â
This could take up to 25 minutes – a significant amount of time when a seriously ill patient urgently needed the emergency department.Â
Now it takes just five minutes after landing at the hospital to transfer patients to critical care.
The HELP Appeal donated £2.75million to the helideck’s construction, which included £500,000 to fund the first ever Deck Integrated Fire Fighting System (DIFFS) on the UK mainland.
The system sprays a foam mix from a series of nozzles installed in the actual deck, which can extinguish a fire quickly, instead of relying on a team of fire fighters.
 Dr Malcolm Tunnicliff, clinical director for major trauma at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: “The development of the helideck at King’s has been a huge achievement and we are indebted to support from the HELP Appeal and our many other local donors.Â
“In seven years the helideck has contributed to improving the care we give to major trauma patients, not just during the day, but 24/7 as the first night capable helideck in London.”
Pictured top: King’s College Hospital’s life-saving rooftop helideck has made 2,389 landings since it opened seven years ago (Picture: Matt Mak Kings College Hospital)
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