Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking with the (a) Civil Aviation Authority and (b) Maritime and Coastguard Agency to help enable community-owned helipads used for hospital patient transfers to (a) meet CAP1264 Version 3 guidance requirements and (b) be safely reopened for Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopter use.

The Department for Transport, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Coastguard have regular engagement with NHS Scotland, the Scottish government and operators to promote safety at helipads. The Civil Aviation Authority CAA publication “Standards for Helicopter Landing Areas at Hospitals (CAP 1264, 3rd edition)” provides best practice for hospital helipads, and the CAA offers training courses for hospital staff on CAP1264 guidance. While there is currently no specific guidance for third-party helipads, The Maritime Coastguard Agency, The Department for Transport and the CAA engage regularly with hospitals and other stakeholders to help them comply with CAP1264 guidance. Ultimately the decision whether to land at third party helipads is determined by the safety procedures of the helicopter operator as well as the dynamic risk assessment of the duty captain.