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

With full funding from the HELP Appeal, the only charity in the country dedicated to funding NHS hospital helipads, we have constructed a helipad on land owned by Andy and Naomi Knight and leased (at no cost) to Mull and Iona Community Trust (MICT) for the specific purpose of accommodating the helipad.

MICT has agreed to take on the responsibility and ongoing liability for insuring, maintaining and operating the helipad and we are raising funds to cover the costs associated with this.

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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