Brighton’s Royal Sussex Hospital Set for Long-Awaited Helipad Test Flights
After nearly eight years of delays, Brighton’s Royal Sussex County Hospital is finally ready to test flights at its new helipad. Originally announced way back in 2016, the state-of-the-art landing pad promises to speed up life-saving transfers for critical patients.
Delays and Drama Halted Progress
The £15.5 million helipad sits atop a 15-storey tower above the Trevor Mann Baby Unit. It was meant to launch in June 2019 but has been plagued by structural issues and rising costs.
A spokesperson for University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust said: “This has been a long-running and highly complex project. Installing major new infrastructure on an old hospital building in a busy city centre posed significant challenges.”
Cutting Transfer Times, Saving Lives
“The project was agreed many years ago by a previous leadership team. Subsequent trust leaders have worked hard to overcome the significant challenges to make the helipad safe and effective. We are now pleased to be approaching the point where patients will begin to benefit from the new helipad.”
Once up and running, air ambulances can land directly at the hospital, ditching the current system where patients are flown to East Brighton Park before a road transfer. This change will shave off vital minutes during emergencies.
What’s Next? Test Flights and Full Launch Plans
- Test flights expected by early March, weather permitting
- Window repairs on Thomas Kemp Tower to be completed by month-end
- Up to 70 flights per year planned, mostly between 7am and 7pm
- Can operate overnight for major emergencies
- Estimated 125–145 patients airlifted annually when fully operational
The 2019 fundraising campaign brought in £1.65 million, with annual running costs expected to exceed £452,000.
A hospital spokesperson added: “This helipad is a major breakthrough for trauma care across Sussex, providing faster, direct access for patients in critical condition.”
