Help Appeal - County Air Ambulance Trust

06/06/2026

The HELP Appeal and Air Ambulances UK, are calling for improved and consistent 24/7 on-site hospital helipad access across the UK, helping patients reach specialist care more quickly when every second counts.

The call follows the publication of a new national report highlighting significant variation in hospital helipad provision across the UK, including at Major Trauma Centres and specialist hospitals. The report was informed by substantial contributions from Robert Bertram, HELP Appeal Chief Executive and Simon Jones, Helipad Technical Lead, HELP Appeal.

Published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Air Ambulances, Critical Moments, Life-Saving Infrastructure: The Case for Safeguarded 24/7 On-Site Hospital Helipads makes the case for improved and consistent round-the-clock access to hospital helipads, ensuring patients can be transferred more quickly to specialist emergency care.

The report reveals that more than half of the UK's Major Trauma Centres and specialist hospitals are unable to consistently support 24/7 on-site helicopter access, exposing a significant gap in national healthcare infrastructure. Hospital helipads play a vital role in saving time during emergencies by allowing air ambulances to deliver critically ill and injured patients directly to specialist treatment centres.

To address these challenges, the report calls for coordinated Government action across health, transport and planning departments, ensuring hospital helipads are consistently recognised as essential NHS infrastructure and that gaps in provision are urgently addressed.

A special parliamentary reception was held at the House of Commons on 2 June to raise awareness of the lifesaving work of the UK's air ambulance charities and the HELP Appeal in funding NHS hospital helipads. Organised by Air Ambulances UK (AAUK) of which the HELP Appeal is a member, the event was attended by more than 50 Members of Parliament and received support from key political figures.

Robert Bertram, HELP Appeal Chief Executive who also attended the reception says:

“This report is a welcome addition to efforts urging the Government to take action on safeguarded 24/7 on-site hospital helipads at Major Trauma Centres and specialist hospitals. Through the HELP Appeal, we have already funded a range of lifesaving helipad infrastructure projects across Great Britain, and will continue to do so through charitable support. This demonstrates that a proven funding model is already in place. The priority now is ensuring the right national policy and coordination so every patient can benefit from direct access to specialist care.”

Images show Robert Bertram, HELP Appeal Chief Executive who attended the reception is pictured on the left with Air Ambulance Kent Surrey and Sussex and King's Lynn Hospital helipad.

04/06/2026

Thank you to Phoenix Networking for its support! If you’d like to take part in its World Cup sweepstake all details are below or just get in touch with [email protected]

Thank you!

03/06/2026

We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who joined us for the Charity Pro-Am Golf Day at Minchinhampton Golf Club last week.

Set against a stunning backdrop, the event brought together 90 players and guests for a fantastic day of golf, networking and fundraising in support of the HELP Appeal’s lifesaving work.

Teams enjoyed a memorable Pro-Am experience, playing alongside PGA Professionals in a competitive Stableford format following a 9am shotgun start. From exciting on-course competitions including Longest Drive and Nearest the Pin, to the chance to win a brand new BMW with a Hole-in-One, the day was packed with highlights and great sporting spirit.

Following the golf, guests gathered in the clubhouse to enjoy lunch together and take part in the charity auction, helping to raise vital funds that will support the HELP Appeal in funding NHS hospital helipads and improving access to Emergency Departments for critically ill patients across the country.

We would like to extend a very special thank you to our principal sponsors, , Sherborn: The Cotswolds Property Specialists; LFS; Cycles for donating a prize in our charity auction and guest speaker Professor Rob Bentley, National Clinical Director for Major Trauma and Burns, for their generous support and commitment to making the event such a success. Their partnership played an important role in helping us deliver a truly memorable day.

Thank you also to all of the hole sponsors, players, PGA Professionals, supporters, volunteers and everyone involved in organising the event. Your enthusiasm, generosity and support are hugely appreciated.

We are very grateful to everyone who took part and helped make the 2026 HELP Appeal Charity Pro-Am Golf Day such an enjoyable and successful occasion. We look forward to welcoming you again in the future!

02/06/2026

We are incredibly grateful to Leek Building Society and its Account holders for raising this amazing amount, which will go towards funding more hospital helipads, critical care cars, air ambulance bases and medical equipment. Thank you so much!

We’re proud to have donated over £12,970 to the County Air Ambulance Trust HELP Appeal through our Affinity Savings Account holders.

The HELP Appeal plays a vital role in funding NHS hospital helipads and supporting life-saving infrastructure projects for air ambulance services across the UK. Their work helps ensure critically ill patients can be transferred quickly to specialist care when every second matters.

Funds raised have supported projects including:
• New helipads at major trauma centres and A&E hospitals
• Emergency helipad upgrades
• Critical Care Cars and medical equipment
• A specialist weather station at Royal Stoke University Hospital to support emergency helicopter landings

Lesley Obee from the HELP Appeal said:
“The generosity of Leek Building Society and its County Air Ambulance Trust Affinity account holders provides essential support for our mission and the patients we serve.”

A huge thank you to everyone who holds one of our County Air Ambulance Trust Affinity Accounts. By saving with us, you’re helping support a charity that continues to make a real difference and save lives across our communities.

01/06/2026

It's Volunteer Week, so we're sending a BIG thank you to all our amazing volunteers for all of your support! But we also need more help.

We're looking for passionate people to join our volunteer team and help raise awareness of the HELP Appeal. From placing collection boxes to becoming a charity ambassador, your time can save lives.

If you think you can spare some time, please email Jason at [email protected] to find out more! Thank you.

📸 Just a few of the projects we have funded this year in Brighton, Preston and North Wales, thanks to your support.

29/05/2026

This month marks two years since the opening of the state-of-the-art helipad at Salford Royal. Made possible by a £2 million donation from us, the facility forms part of the country’s first standalone Major Trauma Hospital.

Since opening, the helipad has seen 117 landings, highlighting its vital role in supporting emergency healthcare services across the region.

A key feature of the helipad is its unique lift shaft, which provides direct access from the rooftop landing pad straight into the Emergency Department. This innovation significantly reduces the time it takes for critically injured patients to receive specialist treatment, helping to save precious minutes when every second counts.

Before the helipad was installed, air ambulance patients had to land in a nearby sports field before being transferred to the hospital by road ambulance. The new facility eliminates this additional journey, reducing patient transfer times by up to 20 minutes – a crucial advantage in life-threatening emergencies.

The helipad serves the wider North West region by enabling faster patient transfers, improving the efficiency of emergency care, and helping to deliver better outcomes for patients in urgent need of lifesaving treatment.

Two years on, the helipad continues to demonstrate how vital it is, ensuring that critically injured patients can reach specialist care faster and receive treatment when it matters most.

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust

28/05/2026

We are pleased to share that the Royal Sussex County Hospital helipad has been formally opened by the first patient flown directly onto the new platform, in March.

Cutting the ribbon on the helipad, David White was returning to spot where he was transferred by a Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance crew into the care of hospital staff in March. David, from Southampton, had collapsed while walking with friends on the Downs, and spent 10 days in hospital after becoming the first patient landed on the platform.

Patients like David gain, on average, a precious 11 minutes by being flown directly onto the helipad, rather than needing an additional ambulance transfer.

Dr Stephanie Tilston, clinical director of the Major Trauma Centre at the Trust, said: “When people are seriously injured or seriously ill, every second counts. Bringing the helipad into operation means that we no longer have to land a helicopter in a field, get the patient into an ambulance, and then drive them into A&E. Instead we can land them directly onto the hospital, and transfer them quickly to whichever specialist team they need. Saving time can save lives, or make the difference between someone making a full recovery, or losing their independence. We are so delighted that this helipad is now operational, it is hugely important for the most vulnerable, fragile patients we see.”

Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal, said: “Now that the helipad is fully operational, it is already having a transformative impact on emergency care at the Royal Sussex County Hospital. Every minute saved can make a critical difference to patient outcomes right across the region, giving those in urgent need the best possible chance of survival. We are deeply thankful to all of our supporters whose generosity and dedication have helped critically ill patients reach specialist treatment faster than ever before.”

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

27/05/2026

The North Wales Emergency Doctor Service (NWEDS), a team of volunteer immediate care clinicians supporting emergency services across the region, is proud to announce the launch of a new critical care car, due to become operational in June 2026.

This latest addition was made possible through funding from us! The £25,000 donation was awarded via the British Association for Immediate Care (BASICS), which has received £250,000 annually from the HELP Appeal since 2019.

The vehicle will significantly enhance NWEDS’ ability to deliver advanced pre-hospital emergency care to patients experiencing serious illness or injury throughout North Wales. Equipped with emergency warning equipment and essential life-saving medical supplies, the vehicle will enable responders to provide critical interventions at the scene of emergencies, often before patients reach hospital.

A dedicated response vehicle will allow NWEDS practitioners to reach patients more quickly, transport specialist life-saving equipment, and work more effectively alongside frontline ambulance crews and partner emergency services. Strengthening this response capability directly supports the organisation’s mission to provide early specialist intervention for people experiencing severe illness or injury, giving every patient the best possible chance of a positive outcome.

Established in 2010, NWEDS has expanded in recent years to include a wider team of volunteer doctors, paramedics, and advanced practitioners. The organisation operates under the governance of BASICS Wales and is affiliated with BASICS UK, working closely alongside the Welsh Ambulance Service and other emergency services across the region.

Dr Bryn Ellis, NWEDS Doctor and Clinical Lead, said:

“We are delighted to introduce a new critical care car to support the growing work of NWEDS across North Wales. Our volunteer clinicians are committed to delivering enhanced pre-hospital emergency care when every second counts, and this vehicle will play a vital role in helping us reach patients quickly with the specialist equipment and interventions they need. We are incredibly grateful to everyone, including the HELP Appeal, who have supported this project and helped strengthen our ability to care for people in their most critical moments.”

British Association for Immediate Care Wales Emergency Doctor Service

26/05/2026

Four years ago this month, the rooftop helipad opened at Manchester University Hospital - made possible through a £1.36 million contribution from us alongside additional donations. Since opening, the facility has seen 476 helicopter landings.

Located on the roof of the Grafton Street car park at the Oxford Road Campus (ORC), the state of the art helipad allows critically ill and injured babies, children and adults to be flown directly into Manchester city centre hospitals for urgent specialist treatment.

Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (RMCH) serves as the Children’s Major Trauma Centre for Greater Manchester and is one of only two dedicated children’s trauma centres in the North West, delivering expert care to seriously unwell or injured children. Manchester Royal Infirmary is also one of two adult Major Trauma Centres in the city, treating patients with severe trauma-related injuries.

In emergency situations, every minute matters. The helipad enables patients to reach MRI’s Emergency Department in under three minutes and RMCH’s Paediatric Emergency Department in less than six minutes after landing.
The helicopter landing facility has already had a major impact both locally and across the region, helping to save lives and improve recovery outcomes for patients with serious illnesses and injuries.

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust North West Air Ambulance Charity

22/05/2026

We hope you have a wonderful weekend!