Lift off for helipad plans at Sheffield Children’s

The new helipad, approved at Sheffield Children’s Trust Board on 31 January, has been granted planning approval by Sheffield City Council and will make sure children and young people can access emergency care with dignity, as safely and as soon as possible.

Sheffield Children’s Hospital is the designated Major Trauma Centre for children in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw and beyond, meaning it helps patients requiring urgent care from around the region. Currently, only some air ambulances can land at Weston Park opposite the hospital and at certain times. This restricts its use, particularly in the winter months, with some Helicopter Emergency Medical Services not feeling safe to land due to the inadequate landing site. With the current site, even if the helicopter can land, the patient has to be met by Sheffield Children’s specially trained Major Trauma team and transferred across a busy main road to the Emergency Department.

A dedicated helipad will give patients privacy and dignity as they arrive at Sheffield Children’s without relying on crossing the busy A57.

Craig Radford, Chief Operating Officer at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This planning permission is fantastic news for our helipad project.

“We strive to provide the best care for our children and young people and the creation of a helipad with help from The Children’s Hospital Charity and the County Air Ambulance HELP appeal, is one of the ways we’re continuing to improve the care we provide. When patients need to access emergency care, we need to move fast while giving patients the privacy they need, and this is the one time we don’t want children waiting to cross the road.”

Sheffield Children’s is the only Major Trauma Centre (MTC) in South Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire that receives children under 16 years of age and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. It also provides emergency services for Bassetlaw and North Derbyshire.

The Children’s Hospital Charity, which supports Sheffield Children’s, has been fundraising for the helipad. The project has received support from the HELP Appeal, grant making bodies, patients, families, colleagues, corporate partnerships and a whole host of budding bakers, runners and fundraisers galore!

John Armstrong, CEO at The Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “Our incredible charity supporters have already raised a huge amount of money, bringing us close to reaching our £6million target. We’re all so excited to be one step closer to construction starting.

“We’re on our final push now to get our fundraising over the line. We’ve just recently launched our Helipad Heroes campaign, where we’re inviting our supporters to do a fundraising activity of their choice, from holding a bake sale to doing an office sweepstake. No idea is too small. All of the information on how to become one of our Team Theo caped crusaders is on our website.”

Find out more about our Helipad Appeal here and how you can become a Helipad Hero here.