Helipad re-opens on Skye
SKYE’S helipad was officially re-opened at Portree last week, following an extensive refurbishment.
The helipad will be a base for two rapid emergency response helicopters to treat patients in urgent trauma cases, saving vital minutes when transferring patients by air ambulance to hospital. The Scottish Ambulance Service believes it will save more lives.
The helipad will be used jointly by the Scottish Ambulance Service and HMS Coastguard and will provide an important additional resource for Skye.
Portree and Braes Community Trust was key in securing funding for the helipad refurbishment. By approaching the HELP Appeal, the only charity in the country dedicated to funding hospital helipads, the organisation secured funds for the upgrade work to be completed.
Trust chairman Donnie Nicholson said: ‘Portree and Braes Community Trust has in recent months undertaken a substantial upgrade of the Portree helipad with financial assistance from the charity Helicopter Emergency Landing Pads (HELP) to bring the landing site up to current Civil Aviation Authority standards.
‘Portree Helipad has over the years undoubtedly helped save the lives of many and will now continue to do so.
The HELP Appeal pledged £18,000 to the upgrade of the Portree helipad, saying that it wanted to ensure the most seriously ill or injured patients get the treatment they need as quickly as possible.
Andy Moir, head of air ambulance, added: ‘This new helipad will allow us to treat seriously injured patients more quickly in circumstances when every second counts, minimising the transfer time to hospital. It will make a huge difference to patients and ultimately save more lives.’