Alberta Health Services announced Friday the heliport at the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre will be delayed again, saying it is now expected to be completed in 2017 in order to coordinate the helipad with other planned renovations to the health centre.
Until it’s complete air ambulance service will continue operating out of Fort McMurray International Airport with patients being transported by ambulance from there.
AHS said it is working to ensure the new heliport proceed as effectively and efficiently as possible, while ensuring patient, staff and worker safety but it acknowledged the frustration the move was likely to cause to residents as well as physicians and staff at the centre.
“We are confident this is the best way to move forward with this project,” said David Matear, Senior Operating Director. “We will do all we can to ensure this delay does not impact patient care, which is always our utmost priority.”
AHS said it is common practice elsewhere in the province for hospitals or healthcare centres without heliports to transfer patients from local airports and said it has not compromised patient care.
Ultimately, costs savings will be found by coordinating work between the two projects. AHS said coordination of construction work on the site will also improve worker safety. The site improvement work is being led by Alberta Infrastructure.
The actual renovations being done at the site include the replacement of windows, the roof, metal panels, and the exterior stucco.
Exact timelines for the heliport project are being revised and will be shared when details have been finalised.
