A £700,000 donation from the HELP Appeal is providing real benefits for patients being brought to the new Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) by air ambulance.
To thank the charity NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Chairman, Andrew Robertson met the charity’s Chief Executive Officer, Robert Bertram, to unveil a special plaque thanking the charity for its significant donation. The plaque takes pride of place below the new helipad at the hospital and patients and staff alike coming from the helipad will see it on their way down to accident and emergency.
Robert Bertram said: “Contributing £700,000 to a Glasgow hospital to help build its life saving helipad, marks the HELP Appeal’s first donation in Scotland – a huge milestone for the charity and we don’t want to stop there. Already we are looking at other parts of the country where having a hospital helipad could make a huge difference to seriously ill patients who urgently need emergency care.
“The difference between life and death is a fast flying helicopter landing on a helipad with direct access to accident and emergency. This new helipad will certainly help save lives.
“The plaque unveiled today is not only to thank the HELP Appeal but also to show its appreciation to the people of Glasgow and beyond for their huge generosity.”
Andrew Robertson, Chairman, NHSGGC, added: “I would like on behalf of our staff and patients to personally thank the HELP Appeal for their magnificent donation and I am delighted that their generosity is acknowledged with a special plaque.
“Their donation is bringing real benefits to patients and helping save lives across Scotland.”
HELP Appeal raises funds to build or update existing helipads around the country and ensure that all major trauma centres and key accident and emergency departments have suitable helipad access in the future.
ENDS
For further information either telephone 0141 201 4429 or email press.office@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
Pic: Andrew Robertson, Chairman, NHSGGC (left) and Robert Bertram, Chief Executive Officer, HELP Appeal unveil thank you plague for charity’s generous donation.
Notes to Editors
For further information about the HELP Appeal please contact Corienne Kilgannon on 07470 226063 or email Corienne.kilgannon@dragonassocs.com.
HELP Appeal was established by the County Air Ambulance Trust to help raise funds for much neded hospital helipad facilities across the country in 2009.
Only a small number of hospitals have onsite helicopter landing pads and this means that transfer times are increased. Most air ambulance patients have to be transferred by road for part of their journey which takes time and can often mean a life threatening transfer is needed from the helicopter to the road ambulance.
The HELP Appeal is aiming to significantly increase the number of onsite hospital helipads through its HELP Appeal grant scheme which offers non-repayable grants to hospitals to help fund new or upgrade existing hospital helipad facilities.
The HELP Appeal relies solely on charitable donations and does not receive a single penny in government funding or from the National Lottery.
People can donate to the HELP Appeal by calling the donation helpline on 0800 389 8999, visiting the website www.helpappeal.co.uk or by text to HPAD22 with the amount to 70070.