HELICOPTER landings at most of Scotland’s hospital helipads have been suspended by the UK’s coastguard search and rescue operator amid safety concerns.
Service provider Bristow took the action after a safety review performed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) following a fatal accident in Devon in 2022.
An elderly woman was killed at Plymouth Hospital while a helicopter was landing.
The busiest medical centres affected in Scotland are Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, which had 58 coastguard landings from May 2022-May 2024, and Western Isles Hospital, which had 52 landings.
These are followed by Edinburgh Royal Infirmary (21 landings), Glasgow Golden Jubilee (20), Campbeltown (13), Ayr (9), Dundee (6) and Dumfries and Galloway (5).
It is believed helicopters will instead land at alternative sites, such as nearby airports, to then transport the patient by road ambulance to the hospital.
Hospitals also affected but did not record any landings since 2022 include Arran, Barra, Skye, Fort William, Kilmarnock, Melrose, Millport, Moffat, Mull, Oban, Rothesay and Stranraer.
Bristow have requested all health boards conduct an inspection and confirm suitability. The hospital helipads which have been cleared for use are Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, and Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick, Shetland.
It is not clear how long the inspections will last or when landings will resume.
It is understood ten Scottish hospital helicopter landing sites (HHLS) do meet recommendations made by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) and the CAA.
However, safe zones for the coastguard's large helicopters are required to be extended to avoid the "downwash".
The Scottish Government responded to the CAA guidance and stated the Scottish Air Ambulance and charity air ambulances could still land at all of Scotland’s hospitals.
In a statement, a Scottish Government spokesperson said: "The limited recommendations applicable to Scottish sites are being acted on by NHS Scotland, and we expect wider recommendations are being acted on across the rest of the UK.
“Health boards in Scotland have reported no issues with the transport or care of patients while this action takes place."
