Search for CUH helipad site to continue amid funding delays

A decade-long search by Ireland’s largest trauma centre for a helicopter pad is set to continue due to chronic funding gaps and delays.

A meeting of the HSE South regional health forum has heard that Cork University Hospital will be forced to continue using Cork International Airport and local rugby fields for the emergency service because no permanent site has been found for a long-awaited helipad.

Local politicians and patients have repeatedly raised safety concerns over the issue since a previous helipad was “temporarily” removed from the hospital at the height of the boom in 2002 to make way for building work.

However, despite the risk posed to patients — who lose vital time because they cannot arrive directly at the site — the HSE has again said the service will not be in place until at least the second half of this year.

Responding to a query from Fine Gael Kerry-based councillor Matt Griffin, HSE Cork area manager Ger Reaney said “trial areas” have been located and will be examined for suitability over the next three months.

However, he stressed that the locations will not be suitable for every type of rescue or health service helicopter and that, even if an area is found, €1.5m will still be needed to develop the landing site.

The financial situation, he said, could cause further delays.

“The HSE is currently examining the potential to develop a temporary landing area in the CUH campus.

“The trials for this are currently under way, but it is unlikely that such a facility will be suitable for all types of helicopter,” the senior HSE official said, adding that while he believed the existing situation is not a “significant” risk, it is far from “ideal”.

Currently, patients flown into CUH for treatment must land at Cork Airport, the Highfield Rugby Club ground or the local Coláiste Spioraid Naoimh fields, before being rushed by ambulance to the hospital.

However, the latter two options are only possible once paramedics and other medical staff have been assured a key holder is available to open the private sports grounds’ gates.

Mr Griffin said the existing service — which has been likened to a 100-metre sprint where paramedics sprint 90 metres before being told they must stroll to the finish line — was akin to “a smaller hospital without a front door”.

“CUH is the major trauma centre for the region. People should be airlifted straight to hospital, not a rugby field.”