We're Backing the Call For Safeguarded 24/7 Hospital Helipads
Tuesday, 09 June 2026
New report highlights the importance of hospital helipad access for patients requiring specialist emergency care. Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity is supporting a new national report calling for improved and consistent 24/7 on-site hospital helipad provision across the UK.
Published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Air Ambulances, the report, Critical Moments, Lifesaving Infrastructure: The Case for Safeguarded 24/7 On-Site Hospital Helipads, highlights significant variation in helipad provision across the UK's Major Trauma Centres and specialist hospitals.
The report found that more than half of assessed hospital sites (53%) are either unable, or not consistently able, to support full operational capability for 24/7 on-site helipad access. More than a third (37%) either lack 24/7 on-site access altogether or do not have an operational helipad.
The Great Western Hospital in Swindon was the only hospital in the West of England assessed by the APPG to have fully operational helipad facilities available 24 hours a day, receiving a 'green' rating in the report.
Both the Royal United Hospital in Bath and Salisbury District Hospital have received an ‘amber’ rating in the report, which means their on-site helipads have limited access. The Bristol Royal Infirmary has received a ‘red’ rating in the report, with its helipad closing at 7pm.
Matt Wilcock, chief pilot at Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity, said: "Every minute matters when a patient needs urgent specialist care.
"Currently, we are unable to transfer patients directly to Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI) after 7pm. Instead, we often must fly patients to Southmead Hospital before they are transferred onwards to the BRI by road. This can introduce additional delays when critically ill or injured patients need specialist treatment. It takes the crew and aircraft off-line for a longer period of time, preventing us from responding to further tasks.
“We are also unable to fly patients directly to the Royal United Hospital (RUH) in Bath during hours of darkness. These hours vary throughout the year, extending into the late evening during summer but ending as early as 4.30pm in winter.
“As a result, some patients must be flown past the RUH to another hospital or are transferred to the RUH by land ambulance. This creates a delay in receiving hospital care for the patient. The medical crew are then separated from the aircraft which takes some time to reconstitute before we are available to respond to further incidents.
"Our crew can reach anywhere in Wiltshire and Bath within 11 minutes. Safeguarded 24/7 hospital helipads help ensure that speed and expertise are not lost during a patient's journey to hospital care."
As a charity providing critical medical care to those in urgent need, Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity understands the importance of every second when a patient needs specialist treatment.
"Speed is critical in emergency medicine. Our crew work hard to bring hospital-level critical care directly to patients, often in the most challenging circumstances.
"When a patient needs specialist treatment, being able to transfer them quickly and directly into hospital care can make a real difference. That's why we welcome this report and support calls for improved and consistent access to safeguarded 24/7 hospital helipads across the UK."
Air ambulance services across the UK are delivered by independent charities and rely on NHS hospital infrastructure to complete the patient journey.
The report calls for coordinated Government action across health, transport and planning departments to address gaps in provision and ensure hospital helipads are consistently recognised as essential NHS infrastructure.
A parliamentary reception was held at the House of Commons on 2 June, attended by more than 50 Members of Parliament. The event was organised by Air Ambulances UK (AAUK), the national charity supporting the UK's 21 air ambulance charities.
Mike McGrath, chief executive of Air Ambulances UK, said: "Patients shouldn't face barriers to lifesaving care because of where they are or how they arrive at hospital.
"Safeguarded, 24/7 on-site hospital helipads are an important part of making sure everyone can access the care they need. They help ensure that specialist treatment is within reach for all patients, reducing avoidable delay or variation and supporting a more consistent and equitable healthcare system."
A public petition has been launched calling for improved and consistent 24/7 hospital helipad provision across the UK.
Supporters can help strengthen the case for change by clicking here to sign the petition.