FERGUS – Groves Memorial Community Hospital (GMCH) has opened an on-site helipad to have a faster response for those critically ill or injured.
“Accessing critical care quickly can make the difference between life and death,” said Stephen Street, president of GMCH, in a press release. “The heliport will improve the health outcomes for critically sick and injured patients.”
The new helipad was opened on Tuesday, moving from an off-site location on Glengarry Crescent in Fergus.
“The new hospital property allows us the space to have the helipad located directly onsite,” Street said. “This also eliminates the additional step of having our EMS ground ambulance transporting patients from the hospital to the old helipad site across town.”
Street stressed safety as a priority for the helipad asking those who are outside the hospital when an air ambulance arrives to stay well back, at least 200 feet, to protect from noise and debris.
