Sunnybrook Helipad

Sunnybrook's helipad - artist's rendering

The Trauma, Emergency & Critical Care Program treats about 54,000 patients each year, where we care for the most seriously ill and injured patients in the province. About 1,200 of those will be suffering life-threatening traumas, half of whom will arrive in a helicopter.

Right now, the hospital's helipad is located about 500 meters from the trauma room. Paramedics and trauma staff have to coordinate with a land ambulance to transfer patients from the helipad to the trauma room, which can add time in treating patients when every second counts. "We're already very good at saving the lives of trauma patients - now we're focusing on incremental growth to further improve care," says Dr. Homer Tien, medical director of Sunnybrook's Tory Regional Trauma Centre.

The plan is to build a state-of-the-art helipad on top of the hospital. Once in service, patients will be transferred from the roof to the trauma room via an elevator, giving our trauma teams more time to save lives. The project will cost $5 million and will be entirely funded by donors.