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Hospital helipad landing sites to go 24 hours University Hospital of Wales denied 24 hour helipad
(about 2 hours later)
More medical helicopter landing sites are being identified and existing ones improved so they can be used around the clock as part of a new flying doctors' service which starts in April. Wales' biggest hospital will not have a 24 hour flying doctor service, it has been confirmed.
Currently, only three hospital sites support 24-hour landings, two in north Wales and one at Swansea's Morriston. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will not allow the University Hospital of Wales (UHW) in Cardiff to operate the helicopter at night because of where the helipad is.
It comes as more landing sites have been identified to be used round-the-clock in Wales from April.
UHW said it was working with the CAA to upgrade the helipad.
Currently, only three hospital sites support 24-hour landings, Glan Clwyd Hospital, Bodelwyddan, and Bangor's Ysbyty Gwynedd as well as Morriston Hospital in Swansea.
A total of £180,000 is being spent to make more available for night landings.A total of £180,000 is being spent to make more available for night landings.
In all, 27 further areas around Wales are being surveyed to act as rendezvous points for road vehicles.In all, 27 further areas around Wales are being surveyed to act as rendezvous points for road vehicles.
The night-time landing sites will rely on rural volunteers or hospital response teams to deploy temporary landing lights and windsocks when alerted to the arrival of an aircraft.The night-time landing sites will rely on rural volunteers or hospital response teams to deploy temporary landing lights and windsocks when alerted to the arrival of an aircraft.
New 24-hour landing sitesNew 24-hour landing sites
From April, Wales Air Ambulance crews will be joined by consultant doctors who will be able to provide immediate treatment for trauma injuries, strokes and heart attacks. From April, Wales Air Ambulance crews will be joined by consultant doctors who will give immediate treatment for trauma injuries, strokes and heart attacks.
Deputy Health Minister Vaughan Gething said the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service Cymru (EMRTS Cymru) will "transform our ability to provide the very best care to the most critically-ill patients in Wales". Deputy Health Minister Vaughan Gething said the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service Cymru (EMRTS Cymru) will benefit the critically ill.
The service will mean 95% of the population will be able to access doctor-led care within 30 minutes. Regarding UHW, a CAA spokesman said: "On reviewing the location of the helipad we were not satisfied that night operations could be carried out safely due to a number of obstructions in the area."
Wales Air Ambulance has carried out more than 18,000 missions since its launch in 2001.
Existing 24-hour landing sites are at Glan Clwyd Hospital, Bodelwyddan, and Bangor's Ysbyty Gwynedd as well as Morriston Hospital in Swansea.
Cardiff's University hospital of Wales is not in the list, despite being Wales' largest hospital as the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will not allow it.
A CAA spokesperson said: "We received a request from Wales Air Ambulance to conduct night flights from the University Hospital of Wales helipad.
"However, on reviewing the location of the helipad we were not satisfied that night operations could be carried out safely due to a number of obstructions in the area.
"We will therefore not approve the request but are happy to discuss alternative locations for a helipad that can be used for night operations in the future."