The first patient is due to touch down at Christchurch’s new hospital helipad today in the Westpac Rescue Helicopter. Until now, helicopters had to land in Hagley Park and it was taking at least 13 minutes to transfer them by ambulance to Christchurch Hospital. Christchurch Hospital is New Zealand’s largest trauma centre and, before the new Waipapa hospital building opened this week, it was the only tertiary hospital in New Zealand without a helipad. The Westpac Rescue Helicopter lands at the Waipapa hospital helipad. Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust chief executive Christine Prince said today’s new era of air rescue for Christchurch could not have been achieved without the help of the community through fundraising efforts.

Source: Otago Daily Times November 18, 2020 20:34 UTC