Two landmark milestones in transforming hospital care for people living across Sussex and beyond were marked today – separated by the height of an 18-storey building.
The Brighton helipad was formally opened by the first patient flown directly onto the new platform, in March.
And back down at ground level, the foundation stone was laid for the Sussex Cancer Centre, the state-of-the-art facility due to open for patients across the county by 2029.
“We are delighted at the way we are transforming our hospital buildings in Sussex, but much more importantly it means we can transform the care we give to our patients”, said Dr Andy Heeps, chief executive of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.
“We have ambitious plans to ensure patients across our county get excellent care, wherever they are treated – that is what our new strategy Excellent Care Everywhere is all about. And we know that realising those ambitions doesn’t just happen – we need to get the right facilities and buildings in place, and we need to give our superb staff the support they need.
“Formally opening the helipad, and laying the foundation stone for the new cancer centre, are visible signs that local hospital care is changing and improving. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone involved in getting us this far, and I hope they are hugely proud of the work they’ve done.”
Today’s landmarks represent the latest developments in the “3Ts” project, funded by the government’s New Hospital Programme. Phase 1 was the £500m Louisa Martindale Building, Phase 2 is building a modern cancer centre on the site of the old, iconic Barry Building, and Phase 3 will be the installation of a new service yard on the site of the current cancer centre.
Elsewhere, work is already underway to develop a new and improved £50m emergency floor in Brighton, while the Trust has delivered a new centre of excellence in colorectal cancer surgery (in Worthing), and is working to open a new stroke centre (at St Richard’s, Chichester). An ambitious programme of further changes across the Trust is underway.
Cutting the ribbon on the helipad, David White was returning to the spot where he was transferred by a Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance crew into the care of hospital staff in March. David, from Southampton, had collapsed while walking with friends on the Downs, and spent 10 days in hospital after becoming the first patient to land on the platform.
Patients like David gain, on average, a precious 11 minutes by being flown directly onto the helipad, rather than needing an additional ambulance transfer.
The honour of laying the foundation stone for the Sussex Cancer Centre has been given to patient Bill Shay, a Trust patient from Brighton who has worked tirelessly to raise charitable funds while living with cancer for more than a decade.
Dr Stephanie Tilston, clinical director of the Major Trauma Centre at the Trust, said: “When people are seriously injured or seriously ill, every second counts. Bringing the helipad into operation means that we no longer have to land a helicopter in a field, get the patient into an ambulance, and then drive them into A&E. Instead we can land them directly onto the hospital, and transfer them quickly to whichever specialist team they need. Saving time can save lives, or make the difference between someone making a full recovery, or losing their independence.
“We are so delighted that this helipad is now operational, it is hugely important for the most vulnerable, fragile patients we see.”
Dr Sarah Westwell, chief of service for the Trust’s cancer division, said: “The new Sussex Cancer Centre is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the way we look after people with cancer from across the county.
“It is so exciting, because it is so important for so many people. We know that the environment we have at the moment is not good enough, so having this investment will be truly transformational. We will be able to see more patients more quickly, offer a wider range of treatments locally, develop research and new treatments, and welcome our patients to a lovely building designed with them in mind. We can barely wait.”
Minister of State for Health, Karin Smyth, said: “I know from personal experience how vital high-quality cancer care is – and that’s why the Sussex Cancer Centre matters so much. This flagship new hospital in the heart of Brighton will transform cancer care for patients across Sussex. It’s a major step forward for patients and families who rely on these services every day.
“With our National Cancer Plan published earlier this year and funding confirmed in January, seeing construction now get under way is a truly exciting moment. It shows what backing the NHS really means: long-term investment, modern hospitals and better care where it’s needed most. This government is committed to renewing Britain and fixing our NHS – and this is exactly what that looks like in practice.”
Natalie Forrest, Chief Programme Officer, New Hospital Programme, said: “As a nurse, I know how much the environment shapes both patient experience and the care teams can provide. It’s fantastic to see these milestones in Sussex, where investment through the New Hospital Programme is becoming real, visible change.
“From the new helipad to the future cancer centre, this is about giving frontline teams the facilities they need and ensuring patients benefit from modern, high-quality care for years to come.”
Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal, said: “Now that the helipad is fully operational, it is already having a transformative impact on emergency care at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.
“Every minute saved can make a critical difference to patient outcomes right across the region, giving those in urgent need the best possible chance of survival. We are deeply thankful to all of our supporters whose generosity and dedication have helped critically ill patients reach specialist treatment faster than ever before.”
David Welch, Chief Executive of Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS), said: “The opening of the new helipad at the Royal Sussex County Hospital represents an important step forward in helping KSS deliver the fastest possible care to the most critically ill and injured patients. In emergency medicine, every second counts, and being able to bring patients directly into the hospital will make a meaningful difference to their chances of survival and recovery.
“Our crews are committed to providing world-leading pre-hospital emergency treatment and care, and this new helipad will enable us to do that as safely and efficiently as possible.”