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The 20 minutes of transport time expected to be shaved off thanks to the new heliport at Saskatoon’s Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital could be the difference between life and death in critical situations, says the province’s health minister.

Prior to Thursday, STARS Air Ambulance helicopters have landed at Innovation Place on the University of Saskatchewan campus and patients have then been transported by ambulance to Royal University Hospital. That process could take up to 25 minutes. The new heliport that became operational Thursday on the roof of the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital will allow patients to be delivered to emergency departments significantly faster.

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Once the children’s hospital and affiliated adult and children emergency departments open this fall, it’s expected that patients will arrive at RUH within three minutes of the helicopter landing.

“This heliport will greatly enhance emergency services for Saskatchewan residents by allowing rapid transportation and transfer of patients in life-threatening situations,” Health Minister Jim Reiter said in a statement. “Landing directly at the hospital will save lives when every second counts.”