SWH and Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust work together to protect the environment

SWH Civils, a division of South West Highways Ltd, is due to start work on the Derriford Hospital Helipad facility at the end of October.

The works will enable the trust to deliver an improved helicopter landing facility. Benefiting Devon & Cornwall Air Ambulances, it will also enable them to land at night, helping the hospital to continue to improve their services to the community.

The project at Derriford Hospital is due to finish in spring 2015.
SWH and the trust have worked closely together to protect the local environment during this time.

To facilitate safe pathways for the helicopters in and out of the newly constructed area, significant vegetation and tree clearance is required.

Andrew Plumber, Business Manager at SWH said, “SWH’s staff has consistency chosen the Devon Air Ambulance Trust as its charity of choice and we are really pleased to be associated with a project which helps its operations and those of the trust so significantly. This is one of several contracts awarded to SWH in Plymouth. The company supports its activities with local employment and is pleased to be contributing to the city in this way also”.

A spokesperson from the Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust commented, “The Trust is committed to developing its estate to support the delivery of high quality clinical services and have taken into consideration the impact of building the new helipad which is of paramount importance for the safe transfer of patients and will save lives.

Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust is a large healthcare organisation; we actively review the impact of everything we do and we are dedicated to reducing the effect we have on our environment. Various developments around the Trust in recent years has seen the removal of some shrubs and trees but in recognition of our responsibility to limit the effects of this we have replanted in excess of 1800 native hardwood saplings in Bircham Valley.”