UPDATE: Winnipeg’s first hospital helipad slated for this spring

WINNIPEG — A new hospital helipad is expected to be ready this spring at Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre.

The designated area for helicopters will be the city’s first takeoff and landing spot for air ambulances. The rooftop landing pad will be 60′ by 60′ and allow elevator access to both adult and children’s emergency rooms and operating theatres.

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“Patients being transported by helicopter need to have the fastest possible access to life-saving care,” Sharon Blady, Manitoba’s Minister of Health said in a news release Tuesday. “This new heliport will make a real difference for patients from across the province who need access to specialized critical care.”

The helipad is expected to speed up transportation times by half an hour, which could increase patients’ chances of survival because of the direct travel.

An open house event at Wellness Marketplace on William Avenue will provide more information Tuesday afternoon.