According to Alberta Health Services (AHS), the runways at Spirit River, Ponoka and Two Hills are only long enough for landings in ideal weather conditions.
The safety of patients, employees, pilots, contractors and our aircraft fleet is our top priorityAHS and the provincial emergency services
reports theAHSvia press release.
Spirit River Mayor Tammy Yaremko met with health officials to understand why Alberta’s health services changed runway length guidelines. The lack of experience of the pilots is particularly relevant.
The lack of advice denounced
Local governments were not consulted in the decision-making process, according to Reeve Tony Van Rootselaar of the Spirit River Municipal District.
” The fact that our local hospital, our local medics weren’t consulted at all about this doesn’t make any sense, it’s ridiculous. »
We didn’t even have time to try to improve the situation or even have a conversation with the maintenance team
adds Tammy Yaremko.
The mayor states that the municipality has taken measures such as updating runway lighting and adding an operating system at all times to improve the condition of the runway.
Tony Van Rootselaar believes that the people who conducted a risk assessment of planes landing at the airport did not consider the consequences of stopping flights for travelers from Spirit River, especially since services in the town, 500 kilometers from Edmonton, already exist are restricted.
There are people fromAHS coming from the cities and making decisions about our rural communities without really knowing or understanding them
regrets Ponoka Mayor Kevin Ferguson.
Dale Magill, a resident of Rycroft, a community 10 minutes from Spirit River, called an ambulance after suffering a heart attack. According to him, the loss of this service frustrating
for residents who require hospital care.
There are amazing facilities in this province and this is the quickest and probably the most efficient way to get people there.
, he laments. Dale Magill is concerned that some people may not be able to get the care they need in a timely manner.
AHS says patient needs are still being met with STARS land ambulances and helicopters.
However, Tammy Yaremko points out that in certain situations helicopters are not fast enough.
Corresponding AHS15 patients were flown out of Spirit River Regional Airport last winter.
With information from Lukas Ettinger
Award-winning entrepreneur. Baconaholic. Food advocate. Wannabe beer maven. Twitter ninja.
