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Plans have been submitted to build a helipad at St Marys Hospital in Newport.
NHS Isle of Wight wants to install a landing pad on land near the current staff car park at the hospital, to speed up emergency transfers to Southampton.
At the moment helicopters have to land 1.5 miles east of St Marys at Seaclose because there is no direct access to the Hospital. It means that patients must be transferred by road ambulance between the hospital and Seaclose. NHS Isle of Wight says the current situation is far from satisfactory for patients needs as delayed transfers can lead to deterioration, collapse and cardiac arrests.
NHS Isle of Wight says the matter of minutes can be life saving for patients with severe trauma or requiring brain surgery, and at the moment the lack of an onsite landing pad prevents patients reaching the Major Trauma Centre in Southampton in a timely manner.
It's estimated that the landing site would be used for around 10 transfers per month, and occasional use by the Coastguard helicopter.
Interested parties have until the 10th Feb to comment on the plans.
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