Helipad technology installed at Salisbury District Hospital, UK
The new state-of-the-art weather station provides emergency helicopter pilots with real-time weather updates to ensure faster patient transfers
A donation of £34,077 from the HELP Appeal, a charity dedicated to funding National Health Service (NHS) hospital helipads, has enabled Salisbury District Hospital to become one of the first nine hospitals in the UK to be equipped with a HELP Appeal-funded state-of-the-art weather station on its helipad.
This addition provides emergency helicopter pilots with real-time weather updates, ensuring patients receive timely and efficient care. It offers live data on visibility and weather conditions surrounding the Salisbury District Hospital, allowing air ambulance teams to make informed decisions for critically injured patients. This ensures that they are transported to the most appropriate hospital while avoiding adverse weather that could complicate flights.
Niall Prosser, Chief Operating Officer of the Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The weather station is a crucial part of infrastructure that supports the safe operation of our hospital landing site. Working with local air ambulance operators and supported by the HELP Appeal, this investment will improve the service we provide to our patients. We thank the HELP Appeal for their continued support and investment.”
Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal, added: “The weather station will provide vital information to air ambulance crews about the conditions at Salisbury District Hospital, helping them determine whether it’s safe to land or if they need to divert to another hospital. With winter approaching and potentially challenging weather ahead, this will be crucial in saving valuable time when patients require urgent specialist care.”
Wiltshire Air Ambulance Safety and Ground Operations Manager Richard Miller said: “The continued support of the HELP Appeal at Salisbury District Hospital is not only appreciated by the trauma center itself, but also the air ambulance charities who regularly land there. The installation of the weather station will be utilized to our aircrew, who are now able to convey patients to the hospital at day or night thanks to the HELP Appeal’s support.”
A new HELP Appeal-funded helipad recently opened on the Isle of Mull.
Chloe Fox
Chloe Fox is an Editorial Assistant for Voyageur Group, joining in 2024. She writes for AirMed&Rescue and ITIJ, covering a range of topics including international travel and health insurance, medical assistance provision, and air medical transportation. Chloe holds a BA (Hons) in English and an MA in English Literature from the University of Bristol.