Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Markham on 6 December (HL563), when the helipad at the Royal Sussex County Hospital was first opened and operational; what the costs were associated with building the helipad; what further works are required for the facility to become fully operational; and when they will be completed.

The helipad has not been opened yet and is not currently operational. The costs associated with building the helipad are currently £14.2 million. There are several activities required to allow the helipad to become operational. These include recruitment and training of the response/fire team, completion of standard operating procedures, and Civil Aviation Authority final inspection and test flights.

In addition, a review of outstanding backlog maintenance issues for the block on which the helipad is located, to ensure any items that may prevent operation of the helipad are resolved, where possible. This includes a review of the external windows. The current planning assumption is that the helipad will be operational during 2024/25.