More emergency life-saving helicopters could be flying to Medway Maritime Hospital while there is a no-fly policy over London during the Olympics.

People who need to be flown to a hospital by air ambulance could soon be treated at the Gillingham hospital as air paramedics teams will not be able to land or fly above the capital to specialist trauma centres there.

During the Games period, which starts in July, emergency helicopters will have to land at other hospitals outside the capital, and Medway, which is already equipped as a major trauma centre, is expected to be busier.

Just recently, firefighters from Medway fire station and staff at the Windmill Road hospital, took part in a preparation exercise in case a helicopter ever crashed there.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said: “During the Olympics, we have to make different points for air ambulances to land because of a no-fly policy in London while the Games are on.

“At the moment, helicopters tend to go to Kings College Hospital in Denmark Hill, London, because they have specialist doctors there.

“The plan is that more will land in Medway now, which is why we had this exercise.

“Helicopters in Medway land on the roof of the hospital – if it crash lands and has casualties it is in a difficult place.

“Also, with more people driving into London for the Olympics, and the potential for more road traffic collisions, they would be taken to Medway or somewhere else.”

Staff at the hospital already have a plan in place to deal with a surge in the number of accident and emergency patients it might receive and bosses say staff are ready to spring into action at any time.

A spokesman for Medway NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, added: “The trust is working with local partners to prepare for the period of time over the Olympics. As part of this, an exercise took place with our local fire station last week.

“Plans already exist to deal with a number of potential incidences and to respond to any potential surge in activity.

“These plans may be activated at any time, should the need arise.”