New helipad for Basildon Hospital

October 11^th 2018

Vision for Basildon Hospital helipad becomes a reality

Patients taken to Basildon Hospital by Essex & Herts Air Ambulance now arrive via a specially-constructed helipad at Basildon Golf Club.

The new helipad was constructed free of charge by Natta Building Company following their introduction to EHAAT by Redrow Homes. Natta is currently a sub-contractor working on the housebuilder’s Westley Green development.

Cliff Gale, Operations Director at EHAAT said: “After successful campaigning from the community and a strong proposal submission from Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, we are thrilled to be able to use the new helipad at Basildon Golf Course.

“Due to the nature of our work, Basildon is one of the most frequented hospitals in the region. For those patients who are critically ill or injured and require the best possible care for cardiothoracic issues, Basildon is the most suitable place for them, and we are glad we can continue to cater for these patients effectively.

“We cannot thank the partners enough, especially Basildon Golf Course for hosting the helipad and Natta and Redrow Homes for constructing it for us and working tirelessly to make this happen.”

Callum Baines, Project Manager at Natta Building Company commented, “It is part of Natta’s philosophy to add value to the communities that we work in. The project involved creating a new landing site and access road for the Air Ambulance in close proximity to the Basildon University Hospital.

“The team and I enjoyed working on the landing site. When we see the Air Ambulance around the area, we are proud that we aided in giving it a safe place to land.”

Colin Jenkins, a director of Basildon Golf Course, said: “We are delighted to have been able to help to supply the necessary land for Essex & Herts Air Ambulance. They do a fantastic job and are now occupying a piece of ground that we are currently not using. It is close to the hospital and we hope it will save many lives.”

The operation of the helipad brings EHAAT one step closer to realising its longer-term vision of positioning a permanent helipad in the grounds of Basildon Hospital, which will ensure patients receive the best possible care quickly and more efficiently.

-ENDS-

Photograph: L to R: Cliff Gale (Operations Director, EHAAT), Callum Baines (Project Manager, Natta), John Whelan (Managing Director, Natta)

For more information please contact the Communications Team on 0345 2417 690.

Notes to Editor:

Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) is a Charity that provides a Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) for the critically ill and injured of Essex, Hertfordshire and the surrounding areas.

The service is provided free of charge but, unlike NHS emergency services, the Charity receives no direct funding from the Government or National Lottery. It costs £500,000 every month to keep the service operational and saving lives, and this would not be possible without the generosity and goodwill of people and businesses of Essex, Hertfordshire and beyond.

Each of the Charity’s HEMS teams consist of two Pilots, a Pre-hospital Care Doctor and a Critical Care Paramedic.

These teams, made up of highly-skilled individuals, tended to 1077 patients in 2016 and are the backbone of your local life-saving Charity.

The fleet, consisting of two Air Ambulances, and four Rapid Response Vehicles (RRVs - cars) operates seven days a week from 7am to 9pm. After sunset, the Critical Care Team continues to provide the service using Rapid Response Vehicles.

In addition, a Rapid Response Vehicle is operational on a Friday and Saturday evening from 6pm until 2am with a Pre-hospital Care Doctor and Critical Care Paramedic.