The new emergency helipad on the Isle of Gigha has been officially opened by the HELP Appeal charity, and 39 Engineer Regiment of Corps of Royal Engineers, which collaborated for the first time together to build it this year.
Previously, islanders relied on a grass “landing strip,” which was an unsuitable surface for their volunteer ambulance service when transporting patients to the air ambulance.
It often became waterlogged and muddy, causing delays in transferring patients to lifesaving treatment at a mainland hospital.
The new helipad ensures that specialist hospital treatment at an A&E hospital or Major Trauma Centre on the mainland can be accessed within the Golden Hour and thus improve patients’ outcomes.
Speeches were made by Simon Jones from the HELP Appeal, the only charity in the United Kingdom dedicated to building hospital and emergency helipads, which donated £245,000 to cover the entire cost of the materials and lighting; SSgt Curtis Noble from 39 Engineer Regiment, who coordinated the helipad’s construction in conjunction with local contractors; and Jane Millar from the Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust.
Several people were in attendance, including local contractors, HM Coast Guard, ambulance service and community nurses.
Simon Jones from the HELP Appeal said: “On behalf of the HELP Appeal, we are incredibly proud to have worked alongside the Royal Engineers to make this emergency helipad a reality on Gigha island. This marks the first of multiple collaborations together building helipads across the country.
“Now, the islanders and their emergency services will never again face the stress of muddy conditions that once delayed life-saving transfers to the air ambulance. This achievement would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our donors, and we are truly grateful to them for making this life-changing project a reality.”
39 Engineer Regiment gained valuable experience in constructing an emergency platform while building the helipad.
It is the MOD’s high readiness air support engineer force and the regiment strives to improve its understanding of helicopter infrastructure so it can react without delay to the needs of defense across the world.
SSgt Curtis Noble explained: “Constructing this emergency helipad on Gigha has been a remarkable team effort. Despite a challenging three-week schedule, which was further tightened by bad weather conditions, myself and 16 members of 39 Engineer Regiment worked closely with local contractors to complete the concreting phase of the project back in March, before returning to Kinloss Barracks.”
“When we left Gigha, the helipad was still very much a construction site. To return today and see it fully completed has been incredibly rewarding and stands as a true testament to the dedication of the local contractors who have applied the finishing touches to bring the helipad to an operational state.”
“Throughout our time on Gigha, we were overwhelmed by the hospitality of the locals, who couldn’t have been kinder to us. Many visited the site to deliver hot drinks and sweets to my team. Their support made a challenging project much more achievable.”
Jane Millar from the Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust added: “This has been a hugely rewarding and important project for the island. It still seems surreal to have this incredible facility now available to the community. We are indebted to the HELP Appeal as without their full donation and support; this project would not have proceeded.”
Maggie Wilkieson, Queen’s Nursing Institute Nurse, said: “I’ve been involved in transferring patients off Gigha for over 30 years and the difference having the landing pad is just amazing; the comfort, privacy and safety it provides makes such a difference to those unfortunate enough to have to be airlifted off Gigha. We’ve tested it out already a couple of times and the difference is incredible, as well as enabling us to provide dignified care.”
Gigha is situated on the southernmost of the Hebridean Islands, just three miles west of the Kintyre Peninsula. It’s about a three-hour drive from Glasgow, followed by a 20-minute ferry ride.
Although there is a regular ferry service, Gigha remains a remote, rural community, and its inaccessibility can pose challenges, especially in medical emergencies. With the addition of a permanent, purpose-built helipad at Gigha Airfield, Scottish Air Ambulance and larger coastguard helicopters can now land and take off at any time, ensuring critically ill patients can be swiftly transported to major trauma centres or A&E hospitals on the mainland.
This press release was prepared and distributed by the HELP Appeal.
