BATHURST Base Hospital has launched a review its emergency helicopter landing and take-off procedures after an an elderly woman was badly injured after being knocked over by a powerful rotor downdraft.
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The 82-year-old was visiting her husband at the hospital last Friday morning and suffered a broken hip after being knocked over by the helicopter’s downdraft as it landed on-site just after 10.30am in response to another medical incident.
The woman was walking between the emergency department and hospital coffee shop, just a matter of metres, when the incident occurred.
She was initially treated at Bathurst Base Hospital before being transported to Orange Base Hospital for surgery on her hip.
She has since returned to Bathurst Base where she remains a patient and, at 82, faces a significant recovery period ahead.
When asked if the car park was in lockdown during the helicopter’s landing and how many security personnel were on-site to ensure public safety, a spokesperson for the Western NSW Local Health District declined to comment on the specifics of the incident, simply saying the normal hospital protocols were “in effect at the time”.
However, the Western Advocate has been told by unofficial sources that normally several security guards stand at key points when helicopters take-off and land, preventing public access.
Last Friday, though, the Western Advocate understands there was only one security guard on-site and the area was not locked down.
As such, there was no indication there was any safety risk to the victim by walking the short distance from the emergency department to the coffee shop at the adjacent entrance to the hospital.
In a statement released on Wednesday evening, Western NSW LHD confirmed a visitor was injured in what it described as “a rare incident” at the hospital during a helicopter landing.
“Protocols to control pedestrian and vehicle traffic around the hospital during helicopter take-offs and landings were in effect at the time,” the statement said.
“Safety of patients and visitors to Bathurst Hospital is a high priority for Western NSW LHD.”
The spokesperson said this was the first recorded incident of its type at Bathurst Base Hospital.
“The patient is in a stable condition and all appropriate support is being provided.”
As a result of the incident, the hospital spokesperson said the hospital has “conducted a review into the incident, and has strengthened helicopter take-off and landing procedures”.
