SCAA first to land on new emergency helipad on Isle of Mull

Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) was the first to land at the newly commissioned helipad at the Mull and Iona Community Hospital.

The helipad was completed last month (March 2024) after charity Helicopter Emergency Landing Pads (HELP) gifted £418,000 to cover the cost of the project.

The completed project has been met with widespread support and is already showing significant results in patient care.

Cheryl-Ann Paterson, senior charge nurse for Mull and Iona Community Hospital, told SCAA: “It’s all about saving as much time as possible. We needed to cut time for the patients being transferred, but also when we the staff are awaiting help to be flown in.”

Prior to the new helipad, patients requiring an air ambulance would be transported via land ambulance to Glenforsa Airfield, a journey Cheryl admits that could often take 20-30 minutes.

“The transport to and from the old helipad could be quite uncomfortable for patients,” she explained.

“If you were really unwell, there was always a worry of the effect of that additional journey time. For instance, if you had a spinal injury and then you had to be transported, that journey by road could be incredibly unpleasant for patients.”

The new landing site also ensures SCAA crews a swifter operation when conducting patient transfers. SCAA was first to land on the hospital helipad to transfer a patient to mainland hospital care. The urgent transfer saw SCAA airlift the sick man to the Lorn and Islands Hospital in Oban in six minutes.

“The SCAA helicopters are a very familiar sight around the skies of Mull,” Cheryl pointed out.

“Everyone working at the hospital was very excited to hear and see the SCAA helicopter land on the very first day of the helipad being open.”

Construction on the new helipad began in May 2023. The maintenance of the new site will be under the responsibility of the Mull and Iona Community Trust.

Cheryl, who has worked at the community hospital for 21 years, said: “Already we’re seeing a massive reduction in the amount of time it’s taking the patients to leave the department. We’ve managed to cut that time down by well over an hour.

“It’s reassuring to know now that if the helicopter lands, we can safely and swiftly transfer the patient without them having to spend valuable time travelling by road.

“The community are just really happy that the new helipad is here and there’s still that general air of excitement when the air ambulance comes into land.”