WEST WORCESTERSHIRE MP Dame Harriett Baldwin has welcomed plans which would allow more air ambulances to land critically ill patients at the main Worcestershire hospital.
At the moment most helicopters that rescue casualties from incidents in Worcestershire have to travel north to Birmingham hospitals and night time landings are not possible.
Plans for an improved 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 emergency, which often means 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 six incidents each day.
She has championed the charity’s bids for Government funding and regularly meets with the leadership to hear about how it supports the residents of West Worcestershire.
“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 improve the helicopter’s landing capability at Worcestershire Royal Hospital have stalled and I am told that a new fully funded plan to improve the landing area is in place and ready to go.
“Time is always of the essence when people have an accident so I am assured that a newly improved 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,” she said.
