The B.C. government announced on Tuesday a new air ambulance like the one shown will begin flying out of Kamloops. The contract has not yet been awarded. B.C. Ambulance Service

A new air ambulance service began flying out of Kamloops, B.C., this week, but a longtime advocate says proper helicopter landing pads are still needed at the region's two major hospitals.

Premier Christy Clark announced the $2.35-million annual budget for the service on Tuesday at a ceremony in Kamloops.

”Having a dedicated helicopter air ambulance and a team of highly trained critical care paramedics who can transport [patients] to the nearest tertiary hospital, which could be a few hours’ drive, will lead to better patient outcomes,” said Clark.

The announcement comes after an eight-week trial of a dedicated helicopter service last summer. During that trial, the air ambulance service team was sent out more than 60 times to transport patients to hospitals in Kamloops, Kelowna and Vancouver.

Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Terry Lake said service will be welcome.

“This $2.35 million annual investment supports rural communities like Clearwater with better access to [Royal Inland Hospital] and improved service for rural physicians,” said Lake.

The air ambulance service will be available 12 hours a day, seven days a week. There are four dedicated air ambulances in B.C. Two are located in Vancouver, one in Prince Rupert and now one in Kamloops.

Landing pads still needed at hospitals

Joe Gardner, the manager of the Douglas Lake cattle ranch southeast of Kamloops is a longtime advocate of an air ambulance service in the region.

“It’s a fantastic announcement. It’s something many of us have dreamed about for a long time. It was really needed. It will save lives,” said Gardner.

But still Gardner says important improvements are needed, including fully functioning land pads at hospitals such as Royal Inland in Kamloops and Kelowna General Hospital in Kelowna.

Kamloops, B.C.

“The other day a lady was injured in an [all-terrain vehicle] accident and had some spinal injuries. Her husband was very disconcerted when he was told they weren’t able to fly her to the hospital. They were flying her to Kamloops airport,” said Gardner.

”Right now, it’s just not satisfactory to have to add a half hour or more of ground travel transport because they are not flying to the hospital,” said Gardner.

The Interior Health Authority says the helipad at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops was taken out of service August 2010 after Transport Canada ruled the helicopter used was too large for the heliport’s certification.

Interior Health announced in June that $750,000 in funding had been secured to upgrade the hospital’s helipad

Darshan Lindsay, spokesperson for Interior Health, says upgrades will be completed by next summer.

In Kelowna patients also have to be taken by ambulance from the airport to the hospital, but a new helipad is planned there as well, said Lindsay.

"The new Centennial Patient Care Tower at [Kelowna General Hospital], which is anticipated to be operational in late May of next year, will feature a rooftop helipad." said Lindsay in a statement.