WEST WORCESTERSHIRE MP Dame Harriett Baldwin has welcomed plans which will allow air ambulances to land critically ill patients at the main Worcestershire hospital.
At the moment helicopters which rescue patients from incidents in the county have to travel north to Birmingham hospitals where there are helipads.
A new landing area at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital would reduce journey times for patients and allow them to be treated closer to the location of their incident, and often therefore closer to their homes and families.
Dame Harriett met with staff and volunteers from the Midlands Air Ambulance charity which operates the emergency helicopters across the Midlands and responds on average to 6 incidents each day.
She has championed the charity’s bids for central funding to support its work including nearly £1million in cash from the Libor fund and she regularly meets with the leadership to hear about how it supports the residents of West Worcestershire.
Dame Harriett said: “The Midlands Air Ambulance provides a vital service for people who need help quickly and efficiently and in rural areas a helicopter can often be the fastest way to get a casualty to hospital.
“I know that previous attempts to allow helicopters to land at Worcestershire Royal Hospital have stalled and I am told that a new plan is in place to create a helipad near to the hospital which is fully-funded and ready to go.
“Time is always of the essence when people have an accident so I am assured that a new helipad will save lives and improve people’s chances of recovery. I will follow this matter closely as the plans are developed in consultation with the local planners and the hospital’s management.”
