Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has said that the government would want to reach a stage where a helicopter ambulance service is available in Dominica.
Speaking at the ground breaking of the new national hospital at the Lindo Park on Monday afternoon, he said this is because of the geographical terrain of Dominica.
“Ultimately because of the geographical terrain of Dominica we would want to move to and reach the stage of introducing a helicopter ambulatory service that respond and attend to emergencies in a matter of minutes,” he stated.
However, he warned that “as in most things, it will take time and resources to fully implement.”
He said in light of the construction of the new hospital, the government is determined to upgrade the ambulance services around the island.
“It is our determination to ensure that complementary to the construction of this new facility, will be an upgrade of our national ambulatory services whereby there will be a full compliment of ambulances which will be strategically located around the island taking into consideration current and projected residential patterns,” he stated.
He noted that it means the government wants to ensure that ambulance services are available on a timely basis to people around the island, “guaranteeing minimum response time to reaching the ill and traversing from point of contact to the hospital.”
The US$40-million hospital is being built as a ‘gift’ from the People’s Republic of China.
These doom and gloom merchants has nothing positive to say about our country just hatred in fact it’s going to consume them. America is a very rich country and there are more than 14 000000 blacks on food stamps. I wouldn’t be surprise if a lot of these PM critics are recipients of this program so go on PM do the work that the people has elected you to do
Being on foodstamps is not a crime, some people hit hard times. But to constantly lie to the populace when u know we cannot afford to maintain trash trucks , how do u mIntain a helicopter
State your source of your bogus statistics please.
Well thanks to the call made to glasie by the chairman of the laplaine disaster preparedness management committee if there was one Wendy thomas would maybe still be alive thanks good job to mr fontaine committee
after tropical storm ericka the prime minister saw the importance and i think now is the timee…..well done prime minister…..leave politics aside….this is much needed….i support that move
well I do agree that a state of the art hospital is essential, but if we can’t maintain what we have why build one that is going to demand more….are the Chinese going to maintain it?
I believe that the best thing to do is to try to improve our health care services, it appears that the only medication our nurses are aware of is ivy….the most essential machines at hospital are always not oprational, why is it that lafalaise always have to be the ones running test, so a privately owned institution is more capable of taking care of patients, I would love to think that a hospital should be capable of running all its blood works……this is such a mystery but we need to think of our current health situation and see how best it can be improved……
we wonder why the nurses are always ready to eat you ……they need an increase in salary……
we need to upgrade what we have hospital is more than the building its all about the best health care……
Sigh… Let me break this down
Option 1:
ONE (1) Fancy helicopter, probably cost about 10,000 just to start it.
Any mechanical issues we going to have to bring down a specialist to fix it.
Can probably get to a scene of an accident faster than an ambulance, not sure where it will land.
OR
Option 2:
FIVE (5) Fully Equipped ambulances, Cost a gallon of gas to start.
Any Mechanical issues: I know mechanics that can fix a transmission with a butter knife.
Will get to an accident slower than a chopper, but the patience will be getting PROPER medical assistance once it arrives.
Quick Poll
Thumbs up for proper ambulances, Thumbs down if you rather the helicopter and what im saying is garbage.
Now don’t look at this with blue eyes or red eyes. Look at the one that makes more SENSE.
Well
Dice’s hospital in the sky seems to be coming to the ground, so the helicopter in the sky will come to the ground one day. There is nothing wrong with having a vision for the future.
I did not get the impression that there was any suggestion of a helicopter at the expense of the existing ambulance service. I assumed it was a vision for the future and by the way, I agree wholeheartedly that the health services must absolutely improve, starting with the attitudes and professionalism or lack thereof of the health professionals.
We can build all the facilities that we want and pay all the high salaries but if the attitudes and commitment to service of the health professionals stink, we are going no where!
when you write like this …you confusing these people..these levels of reasoning is to high for their calibers..UWP means,,, undermining warmongering principles
It is a good idea. Some countries have helicopter service to transport patients from remote areas to the hospital. It could be called an air ambulance. Ontario has one; if not more than one and throughout Canada.
Some of you lack sense. You put the cart before the horse. Do you not think that those who fly the helicopters will not be trained?
Promises, promises and more promises
Can’t even maintain the Marigot hospital is helicopter he wants to buy and maintain the man is mad.
Marigot people no need to agitate for New hospital Skerrit plan to fly you all to the New state of the art hospital which by the way does not include a helicopter landing pad. At least it is not shown their drawings so more lies and pies in the sky. By the way check out the credibility of the ones contracted to build the Skerrit hospital http://Inadg4.dab.org these folks are blacklisted by WB and by Africa.
Mr PM all those monies you are thinking of spending in the projects put that money into the local Bank to make available to the FARMERS, put that money into Agriculture. This is the backbone of the country. When Agriculture moves on the whole country will BENEFIT,what don’t you understand by that.
Wait are you not from the farming community? My God.
The idea is a good one but the practicality of maintenance and cost is something that Dominica cannot afford alone at the present time.
Firstly they are not cheap to buy so to avoid depreciation it better be under some kind of lease plan. From what I gather, it cost London approx 1500 pounds per minute once that bird goes airborne and a lot of the funding comes from charitable donations. The population size and wealth of London is the polar opposite of Dominica so that option is not viable.
Maybe, as we have some claim to Bird Island (I dont go with the PM’s declaration supporting Venezuela) we could do so in partnership with other islands to bear the cost.
If a possible joint deal for the oil extraction (with Venezuela) were in place then then it could be done in partnership with other islands as lower fuel costs and spread overheads would make better economics.
This sort of project would enhance the quality of life and healthcare in all the islands particpating.
Where there is a will there is a way. If it is to be, it will be. We realize it will be an expensive venture. Nevertheless, it is encouraging. Therefore, be positive and give it your blessings. In the long run it will serve Dominicans when needed.
Each capable Dominican should commence a fundraising to assist the government. It is for the benefit of all Dominicans. If you were to measure your criticisms in terms of money, Dominica would be rich.
Try doing something good for your country, for nationals which, in effect is also for yourself, rather than being critical. God will bless you for it.
I cannot stand this silly optimism you constantly spouting on DNO!
I know for sure you would NEVER leave your cushy little life in Canada and come back to brave our health care system! Demm HYPOCRITE!!
“Where there’s a will there’s a way”?! You are so full of it!
Here is an example; of which Skerrit should take note, and be reminded these are not easy nor cheap to maintain, if he believes they are like a car which can be used for months or years without an oil change he is out of his mind.
“The EC155 B1 Dauphin is classified as a mid-size helicopter, and can be used for the following missions: Corporate, Medical, Oil & Gas, and Police.
The approximate base price of this rotorcraft is $10.2 million, which is 38% more expensive than the average for its class. It can transport up to 12 passengers, just about the same as competitors of a similar size. The EC155 B1 Dauphin can fly as far as 423 nautical miles on a tank of fuel, a range that’s right about the same as other similarly sized rotorcraft.
Top speed comes in at 150 knots, or right on par with the speed of the average mid-size helicopter.”
A helicopter ambulance makes such good sense, our PM is a true visionary. It will benefit those who need to get to the hospital quickly, but live far away. Lord I pray this idea comes to fruition.
We are on the right track with this PM
True visionary – He will land it on the trees and power lines.
You are a real ABOLOR
You are so ignorant, and blind that you will forfeit your very life to save Skerrit, and support Skerrit’s his foolishness!
Visionary you say?
If Skerrit had any vision, rather than spending more than a half of a billion (five hundred million plus dollars) installing landing lights at Melville Hall Airport, and ended up with the rubbish you saw at Melville after the passage of Erika; you would not call him a visionary, but something different.
Remember Skerrit, squandered more than a half billion dollars on the advise of Ralph Gonzalez of St. Vincent, who told Roosevelt Skerrit that Dominicans do not need an International Airport, all he need to do is refurbish the old dilapidated terminal, install landing lights, and that’s good for Dominica.
Nevertheless, while he was making an idiot out of Skerrit, he was in the process of building Argyle International Airport in St. Vincent. So, if you believe Skerrit is a visionary, you must be a simple functioning illiterate!…
More pie in the sky? I heard I that the well-connected Triumvirate is putting together a top secret pie in the sky recipe book that contains hundreds of recipes for hotels and helicopters.
Rubbish like that is one of the reasons I entertain the idea that Skerrit mentality is equivalent to that of a Mountain Chicken: Carpaud (crapo). Here this clown is talking about the terrain of the country, which we all know is perhaps the most rugged in the Caribbean, yet he try to impress his supporters with this nonsense.
I advise Skerrit to buy this Ambulance helicopter, lets’ see how long they last. If Dominica, is in no position to buy an ambulance; those in the picture are a given, where is that Crapo going to get money from to buy helicopter. When we suggest an International Airport some foolish people ask about maintenance cost, I ask if Skerrit knows the cost to maintain one Chopper! Parts has to be change on schedule good or bad, used or unused
Food for thoughts Roosevelt!
I suspect after he flew over Dominica in a Chopper, after Erika, he now want his toy to fly him and his boys to Martinique when they have a headache!
Aside from costs, I can only imagine the ‘debah’ over who runs, it where it is based, etc. Now your last line puts an angle I didnt think of before.
However, there are parallells, i.e. when Margaret Thatcher ordered the Armed Services to get their helicopters out to go find her boy because the twat got lost on a car race in the desert. The taxpayers had to pick up the bill.
In fact, the dude even had the audacity to try and overthrow an African country and mommy got him out. White priviledge at its finest, slightly off topic I know but it is how elites behave. Take heed dear Dominicans.
That’s a great idea Mr. PM!
It is not just the ambulance that is the issue, it is making sure they are trained paramedics. Currently these ambulance drivers are just that – bus drivers.
If you have personnel who are trained in emergency medicine and they are strategically located around the island, they can respond quickly to stabilize the patients before the ambulance arrives. To even talk about helicopter ambulance is just dreaming in technicolor.
Helicopters will introduce a whole new set of complexity and cost that they have not even considered.
Let’s learn to do the small simpler things first before we jump into things we have no business in.
Heck we cannot even get the Marigot hospital mess sorted out and now he is talking about helicopter ambulance.
Give your head a shake man!
big talk as usual but little action
big talk little action
so if u building a news up to date hospital fully equip with high rankys doctors wat is d purpose for the air ambulance.do ppl still have to go Guadeloupe and Martinique?
Hahaha Dominica don’t you guys see what he is doing. He wants to be elected once more so he is building the hospital to conclude in 2019 just as he would be campaigning for reelection. Think my people a litte breaking grounds all people in Red stupid fools
What a pipe dream
Hi! it’s me again, everyone’s favorite idiot. I know everyone was cheering when the PM was spewing his pipe dreams for the simple minded.
Yes, i’ll admit it, a helicopter sounds…wonderful, and yes, if somebody break their leg on Mount Dioblotin would be nice to air lift them. However as I was saying in a previous story, our ambulances are basically buses with no back seats, wouldn’t it make more sense to outfit /maintain 5 ambulances vs getting a helicopter just cause it’s nice?
Secondly, lets say an accident occurs, somewhere,who decides to send the helicopter? what if there’s no landing? I have NO knowledge of airspace but is starting a helicopter as simple as just jumping in an ambulance?
I could be wrong, but I dont think helicopters are sent to accidents, I know helicopters are used to move patiences from one hospital to another or rescue operations.
To me, it makes more sense to have proper ambulances, and yea, an ambulance to fly someone to Martinique if need be.
man you are a real idiot for real,,any state of the art hospital without air ambulances isn’t state of the art,,the dam Chinese knows that,,the fact is we are not the ones paying for it,,,so in essence we can not make demand
What you’re talking about is putting a King Size bed in a 8 x 10 room. The roads are not suitable for the larger Ambulances you speaking on. I’ts not just the main roads it s side streets and places where people live, places where buses of that size can barely travel. get a grip man, just stop the hating and think for while.
The roads are not suitable for a larger ambulance (Bear in mind im not talking of a larger ambulance but one with more things in it other than a stretcher.)
Ok fine, good point…very wise man…i understand…you so right.
Now the roads not big enough for a larger ambulance right….explain to me HOW we going to land a HELICOPTER in a side street.
You listening to yourself? I’m not hating…it’s facts bro.
We cannot take a bigger ambulance….but we can take a helicopter…sigh. I’d wash you so bad in a debate.
Try landing a helicopter on the main road in Mahaut.
Boy Skerrit is a comedian.
A helicopter is far more expensive to operate than a fixed-wing aircraft of comparable size and capacity. It is a complex machine and we do not have maintenace facilities on island. However, that could be arranged through a contract with the French. I would also point out that, certainly in Europe they are routinely used to carry medical personnel to – and evacuate victims for accidents scenes, traffic accidents not excluded. In London they will land on a playing field, a park or even in the middle of a street. With our small population I don’t know how cost-effective such a service would be, especially if we do not have a matching quality trauma A & E service in place. Such machine could also be used for police operations and the costs be shared shared between the security budget (police & fire brigade) and the ministry of health.
Malatete
There is no cost sharing in any practical sense since the money to operate such a service ultimately would have to come from the Treasury
Lamanidiot, to call your self a stupid name like that tells me something about you and i am not surprised by all that bobohaha you sounded just Linton it must be rubbing off on you guys thick as a 10×10plank of wood.
Don’t worry all u days are numbered, who LAUGH last LAUGH the best
“patients”
Give it a chance. It is not yet off the ground and some of you commence your charade of criticisms as usual. Do you ever approve of and appreciate what is planned for Dominica? People as you destroy all good plans for your country..
It will not get off the ground anytime soon unless Dominica has a wealthy benefactor. The costs make it totally impossible unless it is a shared resource and even then we would be a minor partner due to the size of the contribution we could reastically make.
We need to stop fuelling pipe dreams and focus on dealing with the practicalities and realities within our control. the world outside is watching and laughing.
Do you think the St.Vincent airport fiasco isn’t a celebrated joke throughout the region at our expense? I’m amazed how people still support this poor example of a leader. But then again the starving and desperate will see sunshine coming out of the arse of a man who puts some crumbs on their table.
It’s a good initiative but Its also more important to consider the training of the people who will support the services.
There are some who take their profession very seriously and others who dont. If the equipment is there the support personnel should be also be vigilante in executing their service to others.
Its not sensible to pay any attention to naysayers anymore, they are programmed to hate so please move forward with this idea… its along time coming.
and the boat to carry the farmers produce, a helicopter service is not five cents maintenance like that of a boat, so I am wondering if this helicopter service is for the labour party elite in dominica… like we see how ambulance jets come so quickly when they are sick…
The helicopter is either to take them to Martinique when they fall ill, or to make their escape when the fire gets too hot under their front side.
Pa wool em bush sa pa meet
Yes, Sir, expect a helipad in front of the obscene State House too long.
What happen you crazy. You don’t have a proper air services to the country is helicopter ambulance you want. We carry our ignorance as are badge of how honor stop FOOLING us Dominican.