New helicopter landing sites for Wales' flying doctors

  • Wales
Today's funding announcement means more landing sites will be available 24 hours a day Credit: ITV News

Helicopter landing sites across Wales are to receive an upgrade, to make them available 24 hours a day.

It's in preparation for the start of a new 'Flying Doctors' service, EMRTS Cymru, which launches in April.

Several of Wales' hospitals already have helicopter landing sites, but at the moment only three (Ysbyty Gwynedd, Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and Morrison Hospital), support 24-hour-a-day landings.

A £180,000 investment, announced today, means landing sites, which have already been cleared for day landings, will become available for night landings.

They include:

  • Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth - Penglais school playing fields

  • Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest - Existing hospital helipad/airport

  • Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen - Existing offsite helipad

  • Singleton Hospital, Swansea - Field behind Singleton fire station

  • Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport - Existing offsite helipad

  • Neville Hall Hospital, Abergavenny - Existing hospital helipad

  • Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Llantrisant - Existing hospital helipad

  • Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr - Existing hospital helipad

  • Wrexham Maelor Hospital - New helicopter landing site

  • Brecon site for Powys - Infantry Battle School, Dering Lines Ministry of Defence facility

As well as these, a further 27 sites are being surveyed for possible rendezvous points for helicopters and vehicles.

It's hoped improving landing sites will support Flying Doctors in a number of ways, including transferring time critical patients and providing pre-hospital care.