Originally Posted by
BigDotStu
The current helipad is considered a temporary installation (and the matting is/was part of that). There are those who want it on top of the building, but that is very difficult (i.e. expensive) if the building wasn't built to the right specification to have one on top (and that is more about coping with worst case scenarios than just the structural strength to support the pad). The helipad is also likely to get moved (again) as a result of the continued development of the site...
The pad is indeed a 'cheap' solution - the NHS isn't made of money! I believe there are still occasions when the air ambulance actually lands at Marshalls and they ferry the patient across to Addenbrooke's by road.
A decade ago nearly quarter of a million quid was allocated to a proper helipad and think it was rooftop one a that to be atop or the then aptly named ATC (Addenbrookes Treatment Center). As with all good things money went st elsewhere and never happened.
Personally the temp pad should have stayed as temp pad and priority be given to construct proper hardened areas as with a lot of Hospital helipads in Europe and states.
Anyhow as of Post news, tarmac has been laid replacing the flying carpets, and G-HEMC did fly in albeit hover taxi with folks on board assessing the damage or even post debris clean up.
Minor bit of inconvenience and things be back to normal soon.
Maybe the Trust will invest in proper facilities , but Addenbrookes is a top notch Hospital one of the best in the country. Last big problem they had was several years ago was the introduction of the e-Hospital system as it was horrendous for staff and patients alike. The then CEO (ex Australian Army special forces medic ) resigned honorably as well as the financial director as the hospital was losing few million quid a week with the chaos the e System had.
cheers