One of the things being considered with the overhaul of the road and air ambulance network in the province is acquiring and stationing helicopters on the Northern Peninsula.
The provincial government has signed a 10-year agreement with a private company, Medavie, to run the system and make key decisions, such as where road ambulances will be based.
The $561-million contract does not include money needed to acquire capital assets such as helicopters.
Krista Lynn Howell (VOCM News)
Health Minister Krista Lynn Howell sees St. Anthony, which is in her district, as the ideal location for a base.
Given the distance between the airport and the hospital, she believes it would be better to station the helicopters in the community rather than the airport to reduce response time for transfers out of the community or off the Northern Peninsula.
