The Portage District General Hospital Foundation has committed to funding a heliport for the STARS helicopter ambulance at the Portage District General Hospital.

PDGHF Board Chair Dale LyleFoundation Board Chair Dale Lyle shares the importance of having the heliport.

"When a patient is in critical condition and needs the decision to be made to get them to Winnipeg at quickly as possible, without a heliport at the hospital, the patient has to be loaded on a stretcher, put in the ambulance, taken by ambulance to Southport Airbase and then transferred there from the ambulance, on the stretcher, to the helicopter and then taken into Winnipeg."

Lyle says this takes time and creates trauma for the patient.

Originally, a helicopter landing area was going to be built, but Lyle says since then the Department of Transport has advised they upgrade to an actual heliport. He explains the difference between the two.

"The difference between a helicopter landing area and a heliport is just the overall design of the facility; safety standards, there's lighting and so on. So the heliport is an official helicopter landing area."

He notes this will be the second heliport constructed at a hospital in Manitoba, with the only other one being at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg. The heliport will be built adjacent to the duck pond south of the hospital and construction is set to begin this summer, Lyle adds they anticipate the heliport to be operational by fall.

Lyle says they've budgeted $150,000 to $200,000 for the project but are still waiting on final estimates. He explains the proceeds from the ongoing hospital lottery will be the biggest component for the funding of the heliport.

"The draw will be early this fall for the actual lottery. Prizes are over $100,000 and you can get tickets online or at various outlets around Portage la Prairie. So, we urge people to get involved with that."

Tickets for the lottery are $100.