Business plan to include helipad so patients across Northern BC get to emergency care faster

PRINCE GEORGE: David Eby and BC NDP candidates Shar McCrory (Prince George-Mackenzie), Clay Pountney (Prince George-Valemount), and Denice Bardua (Prince George-Cariboo) have committed to adding a helipad to the business plan for the University Hospital of Northern BC (UHNBC) expansion project. The helipad will help ensure patients arriving by helicopter in emergency situations can get the care they need, faster.

”People in Northern BC often have to travel to Prince George, the regional hub, for complex maternity care and emergency care, including trauma and cancer care,” said David Eby. “Travelling in a health emergency is already scary enough—we want to make it as fast and smooth as possible for patients as well as paramedics.”

The BC NDP is also expanding the hospital with a new patient care tower – UHNBC is one of 30 hospitals being built or expanded by the BC NDP, the most hospitals under construction in the province’s history.

Patients in the region will also benefit from a new Leonardo AW169 helicopter ambulance, which is due to enter service in the coming months. This new helicopter has a longer range to reach patients with fewer refuelling stops and a roomier interior to make it easier for paramedics to do their work. With seven in total coming to the province, the helicopter ambulances are part of a province-wide modernization of BC’s air ambulance fleet.

“John Rustad’s plan to cut healthcare by $4.1 billion would mean cancelled hospital projects in communities across BC, and fewer doctors and nurses,” said Eby. “Under John Rustad’s plan for American-style privatization and deep cuts, people would wait longer for worse care. That’s a risk people just can’t afford.”