Interior Health announced it wants to work with local partners to see a helipad constructed on IH property near Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital.
On Wed. Dec. 20, the ronaldomanosa and Clearwater Times received an exclusive announcement by IH’s communications and engagement consultant, Lindsay Thorimbert, he says, “You and I spoke a few days ago about the helipad in Clearwater and your article from Dec. 10 and I’ve had a chance to follow up with some of our folks and I have some information I wanted to pass along.”
The statement begins with the fact that IH is “open to working with the District of Clearwater and other partners in the area to have a helipad added on Interior Health property near Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital.”
Thorimbert continues, saying, “Given other capital priorities and a need to focus on investments that provide benefits to the greatest number of patients, we can’t fund a new helipad in Clearwater. However, if there are other partners willing to fund construction of the helipad on Interior Health property, we would work with them to ensure the helipad meets all Transport Canada requirements and assume operations and ongoing maintenance once construction is complete.”
The consultant gives the example of Queen Victoria’s Hospital near Revelstoke that was opened in 2018, adding, “This is how helipads have been added successfully in other communities.”
Black Press is reaching out to the District of Clearwater and will be updating this story.
