The new helipad frees up other ambulance staff to help other patients

A landing site for the air ambulance arriving at Airedale General Hospital has been built next to the accident and emergency department.

Previously the helicopter had to land on a grassy bank in the hospital grounds, and patients had to be driven from the craft to the department.

The old landing site will now be made into a larger public car park.

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Robert Allen, Airedale General Hospital's chief executive, said: "I believe we are only the third hospital in Yorkshire to provide this facility and it is obviously of great benefit to our patients because of the large geographical area we cover."

A&E unit manager Gavin Anderson added: "It means we will be able to get seriously ill or injured patients into the hospital quicker than before and without the need for additional resources."

Paramedic and Yorkshire Air Ambulance air support manager, Mick Lindley said the new location of the helipad would benefit staff as well.

He said: "It frees up a paramedic ambulance from doing a patient transfer and enables the air ambulance crew a quicker turn-around."