FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Prince George, B.C. – The City of Prince George is working with the Fraser-Fort George Regional Hospital District, Northern Health, and the Province of British Columbia to ensure the University Hospital of Northern BC (UHNBC) acute care tower project includes a helipad that supports the best possible emergency-care outcomes for northern residents.
Prince George is the only major regional and referral trauma centre in B.C. without an on-site hospital helipad. Since 1993, air ambulance patients have landed at the Prince George Airport, approximately 15 kilometres from UHNBC, before being transferred to the hospital by ground ambulance.
The Government of British Columbia committed to building a helipad as part of the overall UHNBC project plan in 2024, a commitment reconfirmed during the Premier's 2024 election campaign. The City strongly supports that commitment; however, neither the initial plan nor the recently announced redesign accounts for a helipad on the hospital campus, despite direct and ongoing feedback from the City and user groups.
Over the past 12 months, Council and senior administrative staff have met numerous times with Northern Health, and the City has completed a thorough review of proposed municipal land options near UHNBC. Based on existing land-use plans, conflicts with current users, impacts to nearby residents, and existing utilities, it is the City’s position that no off-site option on municipal land is currently feasible.
The City supports the advocacy work of the Fraser-Fort George Regional Hospital District on this issue and will continue to work with all partners to ensure the best outcome on the helipad site.
The City remains unwavering in its support for the acute care tower project and wants to avoid delays to the overall project timeline. The City also maintains that the hospital campus is the most appropriate and logical location for the helipad.
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Background
- UHNBC has operated without an on-site hospital helipad since 1993; air ambulance patients land at the airport 15 km from the hospital and transfer via ground ambulance.
- In 2024-25, UHNBC received 109 patients who were helicoptered to the Prince George airport and then ground transferred to the hospital, and UHNBC transferred 130 patients via air to other hospitals in B.C.
- Following political advocacy, the provincial government committed to adding a helipad to the hospital expansion project. Northern Health’s website hosts a FAQ that states “The Government of British Columbia has committed to building a helipad as part of the overall UHNBC project plan. Work is currently underway to determine location and design for the delivery of the helipad”.
- Northern Health has presented information to Council in closed sessions because the discussions included potential land disposition considerations. Local government meetings must be open to the public unless legislation authorizes a closed meeting, including where acquisition, disposition, or expropriation of land or improvements could harm local government interests if disclosed.
- The City, at the request of Northern Health, reviewed land options and determined that all municipal land in the area of interest is poorly suited for this usage based on circumstances ranging from existing plans to user group conflict and utilities.
- The City has a number of reservations about the use of municipal land for this purpose based on the anticipated impact to neighboring properties from what the City has been advised is expected to be frequent air traffic.
- The goal of the City’s advocacy has always been an on-campus helipad. As neither the initial plan nor the recently announced redesign accounts for a helipad on the hospital campus, the City is publicly sharing its position and asking the Province to invest the time and resources into finding a workable on campus solution.
Media contact:
Kendall Robertson, senior communications advisor
Mobile: 778-349-5393
Email: media@princegeorge.ca