New King’s major trauma helipad service for London and South East
Far reaching vision of facial surgeon Rob Bentley
16 November 2016
PRESS RELEASE
0.01 26 October 2016
Far reaching vision of facial surgeon Rob Bentley makes new King’s major trauma helipad service for London and South East a reality
The launch today of the King’s helipad was the vision of Consultant Cranio-Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon and Clinical Director of Trauma and Emergency Surgery King’s College Hospital Mr Robert Bentley, who led a multiagency team of clinicians, managers, architects, contractors and commissioners.
Explaining how he made the project a reality, he said: “It's taken us three years to achieve the £9.5 million facility, £3.5 million of which was raised through charity including a £2.75 million donation from the Country Air Ambulance Trust. This is London's third Major Trauma Centre helipad, but is the first in the UK first to incorporate a new Civil Aviation Authority- approved fully automated fire fighting capability.
“This is great news and I am proud that the specialty of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery has taken such a leading role in the provision of major trauma services in the UK.”
The completion of the helipad is a huge achievement for the King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. It was made possible through generous donations from the County Air Ambulance’s HELP Appeal and thousands of individuals, including staff, who fundraised in aid of hospital’s Time Is Life appeal.
The helipad will improve the time it takes to transfer patients from the helicopter to the hospital’s Emergency Department. Until now, helicopters landed in nearby Ruskin Park and patients were transferred to the hospital by road, which took up 25 minutes. The helipad will speed up the transfer time by up to 20 minutes and will benefit patients across London and the south east.
Mr Bentley has also been included in the 2016 Evening Standard’s Top 1,000 most influential Londoners award for the third year in a row.
Kathy Fan, Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (OMFS) and British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (BAOMS) Council Member, welcomed the launch today of the King’s College Hospital helipad as a “ fantastic achievement that will improve trauma care for millions of people in London and the south-east”.
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For further information and interviews contact: Siân Evans on 020 8674 8921 / 07752 414433 / or BAOMS
Notes to editors
The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (BAOMS) promotes the advancement of education, research and the development of oral and maxillofacial Surgery in Great Britain, and encourages and assists postgraduate education, study and research. For more information see About BAOMS
On September 9 September 2016 Consultant Cranio-Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon and Clinical Director of Trauma and Emergency Surgery King’s College Hospital Mr Robert Bentley was named as one of the capital’s 1,000 most influential Londoners by the Evening Standard for the third year running. Read the story here
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