The helipad at Maidstone Hospital has officially reopened following improvement and upgrade work in line with national standards. The upgrade was made possible thanks to a generous donation of over £170,000 from the HELP Appeal, the country’s only charity dedicated to funding NHS hospital helipads.

The improved helipad will continue to support the rapid transfer of critically ill patients being taken to Maidstone Hospital for care or flown from the hospital to specialist treatment at major trauma centres including King’s College Hospital London, where the HELP Appeal also funded a helipad.

The pad also provides the air ambulance with a safe 24/7 landing site when the crew are called to attend an emergency in the community, allowing ambulance teams to meet the helicopter and transfer quickly and safely even after dark.

Enhancements to the helipad include the installation of new lights to enable landings at night, upgraded safety measures such as fencing and barriers, and a highly visible bright green finish to meet national compliance standards.

Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal commented: “We’re proud to have funded these essential upgrades at Maidstone Hospital. Every second counts in a medical emergency and having a modern, safe and fully operational helipad can make a lifesaving difference. This investment ensures air ambulance crews can land quickly and safely—day or night—helping patients get the critical care they need as fast as possible.”

Miles Scott, Chief Executive at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, said: “We are extremely grateful to HELP Appeal for their generous donation which has allowed us to install fantastic improvements to our helipad.

Working in partnership with other agencies is crucial to ensure our patients receive the best possible care, and offering a landing pad for urgent care allows us to do that.”

Maidstone Hospital’s helipad was officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal in 2019 after the HELP Appeal funded its entire construction by donating £300,000. Since then it has seen over 170 landings from air ambulance helicopters including Air Ambulance Kent Surrey and Sussex and the Children’s Air Ambulance. The reopening of the helipad marks a significant milestone in enhancing emergency medical access across the region.

The HELP Appeal has now funded 55 helipads across the country which have seen over 29,000 landings.