A local doctor says that people are needlessly dying in the community because the region lacks a full-time emergency services helicopter.
In an interview with the Edmonton Journal, the chief of emergency medicine at the Northern Lights Health Centre, Dr Brian Dufresne, says that not only are lives being lost, but patients are faced with delayed care because of transportation times.
Alberta Health Services is reviewing whether it needs to expand service for a medical helicopter, and is working with the province to come up with a solution.
Two weeks ago, STARS air ambulance fleet announced a new chopper to serve northern sections of highway 63, but that helicopter won’t be in service until the fall.
Published June 8th 2012
