More hospital night flights set to start

Plans to upgrade a hospital's helipad have been approved, paving the way for more air ambulance night flights.

Essex and Herts Air Ambulance will soon be able to fly patients to Basildon Hospital until 20:00 once lighting and other works are completed.

No date has been fixed for work to begin at the existing site, which is unlit and close to the hospital in Nethermayne, but it is expected to take six months.

Scott McIlwaine, of the air ambulance, said he was "delighted" that Basildon Council approved the plans on Wednesday.

Basildon Hospital is home to the region's major cardiothoracic centre, meaning most patients flown there are suffering or have suffered a cardiac arrest.

Its leaders hoped making the helipad more accessible all-year-round, partly due to the use of new pilot-controlled lights, would save lives.

McIlwaine, the charity's head of aviation and operations, said: "The planned helipad improvements will make landings safer for our crews and help us get patients to Basildon more quickly."

Funding for the improvements has been supplied in full by the HELP Appeal charity.

Hospital chief executive Maimuna Mushabe said the upgraded helipad would offer a safer and smoother service for patients.

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