Helipad a life-saver

Barwon Health’s new helipad helped save almost three lives a week across Victoria since it opened in June 2016.
Almost 200 flights left the $11.5 million helipad at University Hospital Geelong since it opened – including 143 in the first 12 months.
On average, there have been 2.9 flights each week, with about 59 per cent of transfers coming from the HEMS4 air ambulance based in Warrnambool.
Barwon Health emergency department director Michael Sheridan estimated the average was an increase of about 50 per cent compared to the previous helipad.
“The helipad has improved the ability for inbound patients to arrive at Barwon Health consistently,” he said.
“Access to the previous helipad was sometimes limited by the buildings around it, particularly weather patterns that made it difficult to land.
“Now as one of the highest points in Geelong, it’s always uninterrupted access to the hospital.”
Dr Sheridan said the helipad provided numerous clinical benefits to patients treated in the emergency department.
Geelong’s catheterisation laboratory saw a significant growth in the treatment of people with heart attacks thanks to the helipad, he said.
“The new helipad and lift system can make a 15-minute difference in getting someone to treatment in a cath lab. The reception is smoother, safer and quicker.
“We can provide a life-saving procedure earlier because we have direct access with a seamless transition to different areas, and a pre-hospital notification system that has a team waiting to assess patients on arrival.”
The new helipad had also improved the care of critically unwell patients, who transfer from a regional or rural hospitals, and complex trauma patients, Dr Sheridan said.