Our helipad
The helipad at King’s College Hospital is one of only three in London. It helps save thousands of lives and supports the Trust to serve its trauma population of 4.5 million people across south east London and Kent.
Opening
Built on top of the hospital’s 10-storey Ruskin Wing, the helipad opened for landings in October 2016. This moment was five years in the making, following a detailed planning project and engagement with the local community and Lambeth Council. All this was made possible by a multi-million-pound donation from the County Air Ambulance HELP Appeal. In addition, more than 2,600 patients, staff, and members of the local community generously donated £500,000 to the Trust’s Time is Life Appeal.
Saving time and saving lives
Serving a trauma population of 4.5 million people as part of the South East London, Kent and Medway (SELKaM) Major Trauma Network, the helipad has transformed trauma care across the region. Twelve hospitals are part of the network, including King’s College Hospital, Princess Royal University Hospital and St Thomas’. King’s College Hospital is the hub Major Trauma Centre for SELKaM.
The helipad has helped speed up the time it takes helicopters to transfer critically patients to King’s following road traffic accidents, falls, strokes, heart attacks and other time-critical medical emergencies. It has reduced ‘landing-to-resus’ transfer times to just five minutes, a process that used to take up to 25 minutes before the helipad was built. At that time, helicopters would land in nearby Ruskin Park and patients were transferred to King’s by road.
Most patient transfers are made by Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex, a charity providing a Helicopter Emergency Service (HEMS) to the south-east of England.
Night landings
In March 2019, we became the first hospital Trust in London to be granted permission for air ambulances to land at night. This ensures patients get the same level of timely care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Before night landings were introduced, the helipad operated from 7am to 9pm. Any trauma patients who needed specialist treatment and care outside of these hours were brought to King’s by road ambulance.
Following engagement with local residents and Lambeth Council, air ambulances can land at the helipad 24/7. This reduces transfer time from the Kent coast from 2 hours to just 25 minutes.
On average, one to two air ambulances a week land at King’s at night. Most nighttime emergency patients still arrive by road ambulance. Patients are brought by road if they are already close to the hospital and the reduced transfer time the air ambulance could achieve is unlikely to affect their recovery.
The operational costs for the extended service are covered by Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey and Sussex.
Hearing from local people – come and meet the major trauma team
We want to continue to involve local residents in the work of our helipad and Major Trauma Centre. We are setting up regular sessions to share updates and hear your views.
Upcoming meeting
Thursday 16 May 2024, 1 to 2pm
The Boardroom, Hambleden Wing, King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS
Please email [email protected] for more information, to notify us of your attendance and to tell us if you have any accessibility needs.
Drop-ins are welcome.
Please check this page for dates of upcoming meetings and joining details.