Questions have emerged over the closure of the helicopter landing facility at University Hospital Waterford (UHW), just days after the hospital officially commenced its long-awaited 24-hour Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PPCI) service for heart attack patients on 6 July. The expansion of the service has been widely welcomed as a landmark development for emergency cardiac care across the South East.
Concerns were raised by a number of sources, including individuals involved in patient transport, regarding whether emergency medical helicopters can continue to land directly at the hospital.
In response to a series of questions seeking clarification on the operation of the helipad, the HSE confirmed that the landing pad at University Hospital Waterford is “no longer in use.”
In a statement, the HSE said:
“University Hospital Waterford (UHW) works closely with the National Ambulance Service and other agencies as regards prioritising the welfare of all patients in their care during transfer to and from the hospital.
Alternative landing arrangements are in place with a local sports grounds, in the vicinity of UHW, to facilitate helicopter transfers when required.
Whilst matters regarding helicopter transfers and UHW will remain under review, following an assessment carried out by a specialist company, in light of advancements in helicopter related technology over years since a landing pad was established at UHW and with due regard to associated regulations, that location on the hospital grounds is no longer in use and the alternative arrangement in place is satisfactory.”
The statement confirms for the first time that the hospital’s helipad has been taken out of service following an assessment by a specialist company. However, the HSE did not identify the company involved, specify when the assessment took place, or outline which regulations or operational requirements the helipad no longer satisfies.
Questions were also raised over reports that helicopters may have, on occasion, been required to land at locations away from the hospital. The HSE did not address those specific queries in its response, whether aircraft weight or helicopter type influenced access to the hospital helipad, and whether formal engineering reports or risk assessments underpin the decision. Questions were also asked regarding governance arrangements and who authorised the change.
Those questions were not addressed in the HSE’s response.
The correspondence comes at a significant time for healthcare in the South East, with University Hospital Waterford now operating as a full 24-hour Primary PCI centre. The service means patients suffering major heart attacks can receive emergency angioplasty locally at any time of the day or night, reducing the need for transfers to Cork or Dublin and improving access to time-critical treatment.
