There are more helipad delays for the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre, pushing back this necessary feature until at least 2017. A press release that was recently issued by Alberta Health Services explained that the plan was to delay the construction so that it coincided with a planned exterior renovation for the facility. According to the press release the helipad will not be completed sometime in 2017 in order to cut costs and maximize resources by combining the helipad and the exterior renovations. A statement by AHS explained “By coordinating work between the two projects, AHS will be able to minimize costs and complete work required to accommodate the new heliport. Coordination of construction work on the site will also improve worker safety.” The press release also included a statement from Northern Lights Regional Health Centre senior operation director David Matear which stated “We are confident this is the best way to move forward with this project.”

Further helipad delays at the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre has caused concern for some in the community. Initially the helipad was due to be completed in 2015. The helipad is needed so that medevac services can actually land right on the roof of the hospital. Right now medevac services must bring a patient to the airport, and then the patient must be taken by ambulance to the hospital. This is a trip that can add 21 minutes to the travel time the patient has before the hospital can provide emergency care. In the press release statement issued by AHS the agency has insisted that the added travel “has not compromised patient care.” Do you believe that the added helipad delays compromise patient safety? Why or why not?