I missed my gym session this morning, although I'm supposed to be training for the Chariots of Fire race in Cambridge on Sunday 24th September. The race is run to raise charitable funds for a different local good cause each year. This year it's to build a helipad for Addenbrooke's Hospital.
There's currently no dedicated helipad access on the Addenbrooke's campus. In recent years, about fifty patients per year have arrived at the hospital via air ambulance, and this number is expected to rise when the Trust becomes a regional trauma centre. An Addenbrooke's helipad, with its own dedicated ground transport, will shave as much as 20 vital minutes off patients’ journey time to the Emergency Department. There may also be a future role for the helipad for cardiac, transplant and stroke patients. In addition, the police and army use helicopters to respond to medical emergencies and for inter-hospital transfers, and would welcome an Addenbrooke's helipad.
Mary and I are both taking part - but on different teams. Mine is called the Oxford Oldies, and includes Adrian Metcalfe - a silver medalist from the Tokyo Olympics of 1964, an Oxford Blue at 5000 metres, and an Olympian with a dodgy knee.
There's currently no dedicated helipad access on the Addenbrooke's campus. In recent years, about fifty patients per year have arrived at the hospital via air ambulance, and this number is expected to rise when the Trust becomes a regional trauma centre. An Addenbrooke's helipad, with its own dedicated ground transport, will shave as much as 20 vital minutes off patients’ journey time to the Emergency Department. There may also be a future role for the helipad for cardiac, transplant and stroke patients. In addition, the police and army use helicopters to respond to medical emergencies and for inter-hospital transfers, and would welcome an Addenbrooke's helipad.
Mary and I are both taking part - but on different teams. Mine is called the Oxford Oldies, and includes Adrian Metcalfe - a silver medalist from the Tokyo Olympics of 1964, an Oxford Blue at 5000 metres, and an Olympian with a dodgy knee.
3 Comments:
Hi Jeffrey,
We had a lengthy fund-raising battle to put 'The Pride of Cumbria' air-ambulance in service up here, but it's saved dozens of lives already.
We don't need helipads, fortunately, because it's still 'all fields' up here. As long as the sheep move, there's always a place to land. :)
Good luck!
Cheers,
Les
I live locally too and agree that it is unbelievable that a high profile hospital like Addenbrooke's does not have a helipad? How much will it cost and where will it go?
les floyd - thank you.
ellee - the helipad is planned to go in the field opposite the Rosie hospital, on the south of the Addenbrooke's campus. Building a helipad that's fully equipped for night flying and capable of taking the Forces' large Sea King helicopters as well as the air ambulance's Eurocopter, and making the necessary changes to the adjacent road and traffic control system, will cost around £180k. You can support Mary's team on line at www.justgiving.com/addenbrookesdirectors
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