Neilston man helps bring hospital helipad to Campbeltown

The helipad is being funded by the HELP (Helicopter Emergency Landing Pads) Appeal and is to be constructed at the current landing site directly adjacent to the Hospital.

The installation of purpose built helipad with lighting will facilitate patients being flown to definitive care hospitals during both night and daytime and will be used mainly for emergency patients. Once approved, the new helipad is expected to be built on the site between January and March 2021 by local contractor, McFadyen’s.

Local community anchor organisation, South Kintyre Development Trust have agreed to take on a licence to operate the Helipad on land currently owned by the Council. SKDT will also take responsibility for the ongoing operation and maintenance of the site on behalf of the local community.

The Helipad project was originally instigated by Stuart McLellan from Neilston, who regularly visits the area to see his relatives John & Dorothy Biggins and spent many a childhood holiday in Campbeltown watching the Helicopter landing.

Like many before him, Stuart was perplexed by the lack of a helicopter landing pad for Campbeltown Hospital particularly as the air ambulance often had difficulty landing when the field was flooded. In cases like this, the helicopter would be forced to divert to Campbeltown Airport which out of hours delays patients getting to definitive care whilst the airport opens and get set up ready to receive the inbound Air Ambulance.

Stuart began to make tentative enquiries and held discussions with the local Council and NHS to try to move this project forward. Stuart approached HELP Appeal to fund the project after building an extensive business case to get Campbeltown this much needed funding to construct a fit for purpose Hospital Helipad. HELP Appeal fully supported the Business Case for Campbeltown Helipad and offered to fully fund the project from start to finish to the value of £270,000.

Stuart said: “I’m delighted to have been able to get this project this far for Campbeltown its long overdue, I’ll be even happier when I’m standing on the embankment watching the first Helicopter land on the purpose built helipad which the Community have needed for quite some time, I’d like to thank everyone that’s been involved and persevering with me to make this project happen from HELP Appeal, Local MSPs, Local Councillors, Community Council, South Kintyre Development Trust, Local Residents, NHS Highland, Argyll & Bute Council, Civil Aviation Authority & The Scottish Ambulance Service. I’d also like to thank McFadyens Contractors, FEC Heliports & McKinven & Colville Ltd for their continued support with their involvement in the Construction Plans for the Helipad.”

Once the funding was agreed, Stuart approached South Kintyre Development Trust (SKDT) to enquire if they would be prepared to support the project and take on the responsibility for its operation and maintenance. Eric Spence, Trust Manager at SKDT jumped at the opportunity as this facility had been recognised as a priority for the local community for at least the last decade.