Judge urges province to begin heliport construction at Fort McMurray hospital
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FORT MCMURRAY, AB – A fatality inquiry judge says the lack of an approved landing pad is undermining the capabilities of the air ambulance service in Alberta’s oilsands.
Provincial court Judge James Jacques, who looked into the death of an oilsands worker, is recommending government officials move quickly to fix the problem.
Currently, helicopters carrying injured people must land at Fort McMurray’s airport, not directly at the Fort McMurray’s Northern Lights Regional Health Centre. Patients are then transferred by ground ambulance to the hospital – a process that can take 25 minutes or longer.
Design work on the landing pad is done and Alberta Health Services hopes the project can be completed before the end of next year, with flight operations starting a few months later.
