Rescue helicopter being forced to land 3km from Donegal hospital due to helipad safety concerns [Video]

A RESCUE HELICOPTER is being forced to land more than three kilometres from Donegal’s main hospital because of health and safety concerns at its helipad.

Members of the Irish Coastguard’s Rescue 118 team have expressed concerns over landing at Letterkenny University Hospital.

Instead, they have now made the decision to take casualties to an airfield on the outskirts of Letterkenny at Boangee.

The casualties must then be taken by ambulance through traffic to Letterkenny University Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department.

The move follows a health and safety inspection at the hospital’s helipad during which a number of issues of concern were highlighted.

It is understood the concerns include a number of malfunctioning lights as well as concerns over fire extinguishers and also the level training of staff operating in the vicinity of the helipad.

The health and safety inspection was ordered after a recent security breach at the helipad.

Management …