Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure that hospital helipads are protected from (a) planning and (b) operational restrictions.

Hospital helicopter landing sites are an important part of the urgent and emergency care system, supporting the transfer of critically ill patients to specialist services.

In relation to planning restrictions, responsibility for local planning decisions rests with the relevant planning authority. Existing Civil Aviation Authority guidance includes provisions on safeguarding hospital helicopter landing sites and managing obstacles or developments that could affect their safe operation. National Health Service organisations are expected to work with planning and aviation authorities where development proposals may affect helicopter access.

In relation to operational restrictions, NHS England is working with trusts, accountable managers, and aviation partners to strengthen assurance arrangements for hospital helicopter landing sites. This includes oversight of local risk assessments, operational procedures, and compliance with relevant Civil Aviation Authority guidance.

The Government and NHS England continue to engage with partners across the healthcare and aviation sectors to support safe and reliable helicopter access for patients requiring urgent specialist care.