The impact of helipad designation on meeting the best practice tariff for fractured neck of femur cases in a major trauma centre

The percentage of cases receiving surgery within 36 h, receiving joint care of a consultant geriatrician and a consultant orthopaedic surgeon, and receiving assessment by a geriatrician in the perioperative period were found not to have been negatively impacted by the helipad. However, completion of routine recommended assessments including admission using the agreed assessment protocol (96.6% vs. 50%, p < 0.05) and completion of two Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT) scores (74.7% vs. 58%, p = 0.007) were found to have been compromised.