The number of helicopters flying over downtown Montreal could increase: the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM) is studying the possibility of installing a helipad on its roof to accommodate patients whose condition requires emergency care, it has been learned The Press.
This means of transport would be particularly suitable for a hospital whose surroundings are often congested, according to two transporters.
“This project is currently at the technical and financial feasibility study stage,” confirmed CHUM communications advisor Jessie-Kim Malo on Thursday.
Quebec announced earlier this year that it wanted to give more importance to the transport of patients by helicopter, after the release in 2022 of a report concluding that this tool could save lives. In particular, the government is aiming to evacuate patients from regional hospitals to state-of-the-art facilities in major centres.
“Planning is indeed underway,” said Marie-Pierre Blier of the Ministry of Health and Social Services. The organization has “granted funding to several establishments in the health and social services network to produce studies analyzing the potential costs of building heliports.”
The development of four heliports was already confirmed last February: the Lanaudière Regional Hospital Centre in Joliette, the Roberval Hospital, the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) and the Sacré-Cœur-de-Montréal Hospital should be able to send and receive patients by helicopter in the coming months.
About 1550 cases per year
According to two helicopter medical transport companies, the CHUM should move forward.
“If the CHUM decides to do this, it’s excellent news for everyone,” said Jean-Patrick Laflamme of Airmedic.
Having as many receiving hospitals as possible in the metropolis will certainly help the population of Quebec to be transferred more quickly to specialized locations.
Jean-Patrick Laflamme, Director of Communications at Airmedic
The CHUM is “in a fairly sensitive location for traffic and road congestion,” noted Mr. Laflamme. “Having a transfer that would be immediate on the roof of the hospital” would be beneficial, he added.
Alain Vallières, general manager of the Hélico Secours cooperative, also stressed that helicopters were never stuck in traffic jams.
“There are several specialized medical services in the major centers,” he said. Currently, “patients who need to be transported […] must be dropped off either at Saint-Hubert, or at Montreal-Trudeau, or at the heliport of the Sacré-Cœur hospital,” considered outdated, and then take the ambulance. The increase in the number of heliports would reduce the number of transhipments, he said.
The Quebec plan does not concern – for the moment – the pre-hospital evacuation by helicopter of patients who are injured in very isolated areas. Currently, this is the main activity of Airmedic and Hélico Secours.
In its 2022 report, the National Institute of Excellence in Health and Social Services (INESSS) concluded that approximately 1,550 patients per year could benefit from helicopter transport. Cases of heart attack, stroke and serious trauma would be targeted in particular. Specialist doctors could also be transported to the bedside of newborns suffering from serious health problems.