Medical evacuations from Mull and Iona Community Hospital to mainland hospitals currently have to be taken either by road ambulance via ferry, by helicopter or by road ambulance and lifeboat if no ferry is available.

A number of helipads have been constructed, with more planned, thanks to funding from the HELP Appeal, the only charity in the country dedicated to funding NHS hospital helipads.

The project aims to construct a helipad on land owned by Andy and Naomi Knight and leased to Mull and Iona Community Trust (MICT) for the specific purpose of accommodating the helipad.

This project will be funded by the HELP Appeal, the only charity in the country dedicated to funding NHS hospital helipads

MICT has agreed to take on the responsibility and ongoing liability for insuring, maintaining and operating the helipad.

The helipad consists of a concrete area, with vehicular access gates leading via an access road into the hospital grounds. Within the fenced area is an aviation lighting system which will be operated by NHS staff within the hospital and remotely by the crew aboard the helicopter.

Annual running costs will include e.g. public liability insurance, inspection and maintenance of the lighting system, inspection and maintenance of the fence and gates, inspection and maintenance of the access road and concrete of the helipad, inspection and  maintenance of the painted surface of the concrete helipad.

NHS Highland will cover the cost of the power consumed by the lighting system. Staff from the hospital will carryout required routine checks and will share records of these checks for filing by MICT.

The community will ensure via fundraising that any costs for operation and maintenance of the helipad are covered. 

As a charity, MICT will ensure that all funds raised to cover operational and maintenance cost of the helipad (including MICTs direct costs for managing the operation and maintenance) will be ring-fenced and reserved only for that purpose.

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