Shropshire woman is hospital's first airlift patient

A 60-year-old woman injured at a tourist attraction in Shropshire was the first patient to be airlifted to new facilities at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

The woman, who has not been named, suffered an ankle injury after she tripped over at Stokesay Castle, near Craven Arms.

The accident happened at about 2.05pm yesterday afternoon, a spokeswoman for the West Midlands Ambulance Service said today.

The patient was taken to the hospital's new accident and emergency department at 3.50pm after being airlifted from Stokesay Castle.

Problems

The spokeswoman said an ambulance and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford attended.

The woman was airlifted because, due to the nature of the injury, it could have caused problems.

Suzie Fothergill, for the West Midlands Ambulance Service, said: "Crews were called to a woman who had suffered a painful ankle injury after she had reportedly tripped on some stairs in the castle.

"On the crews arrival the woman had been moved to the visitor's centre where she was found sitting in a wheelchair.

"The 60-year-old was treated at the scene for a possible fractured and dislocated left ankle."

She added: "She was given pain relief at the scene before being airlifted to the new accident and emergency department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham for further assessment and treatment."

By Sophie Bignall