Ružinov Hospital has launched a new heliport. The first technical flight of the Helicopter's Rescue Health Service (VZZS) took place on Thursday 17 February 2022 in the presence of the Minister of Health Vladimír Lengvarský, Director of the University Hospital Bratislava (UNB) Ing. Roland Schaller, as well as the managing director of ATE, s.r.o. Zuzana Turočeková and other representatives of stakeholders.
Construction of the heliport together with technical security cost more than 2.2 million Euro, with the financial resources obtained by the University Hospital Bratislava from the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic. We are happy to help improve the quality of healthcare provided in the largest hospital in Slovakia. A modern heliport at Ružinov Hospital will ensure that any patient who will need emergency help will get to it faster and more efficiently," said Minister Vladimir Lengvarsky.
Opening a heliport is one of the hospital projects aimed at improving patient services. The port is connected to the operating room complex and is also vertically connected to the central income activity. It shall also be secured by automatic fire extinguishers in case of emergency situations. The staff who will serve the heliport are thus protected in any situation, and the Director of UNB Roland Schaller added.
The heliport itself is protected against frosting by heating the surface. The helicopter pilot can also remotely control the light signalling system. In case of any unexpected situation, 6 700 litres of water and another 2 300 litres of foam are prepared for extinguishing. However, the risk of such a situation is very small due to the technical solution of the Ružinov Heliport, as well as the high level of professionalism and long-standing experience of the Helicopter's rescue service, or Air Transport Europe (ATE).
The construction and opening of the UN heliport in Ružinov today is seen by our company as an operator of helicopter emergency medical services as an important step forward. When transporting patients to medical facilities, it is very important for us to create the most suitable conditions for fast and safe landing and take-off of rescue helicopters. It is also our priority to transfer patients as quickly and efficiently as possible to the final medical institution. Heliport UNB in Ružinov is an example of how the availability of aviation rescue services can be used as efficiently as possible while meeting all safety features in aviation. All the more so, we wish that this trend should continue with other hospitals where the landing areas are unsatisfactory or meet only the minimum requirements. In the end, the time benefit of helicopter transport will be felt by the patients themselves, where every minute can decide on the development of their health or even life," said Mgr. Zuzana Turočeková, CEO of ATE.
Construction of heliport in Ružinov hospital started in 2019. The contract in public procurement was won by a consortium of Slovak companies. Construction works were completed in May 2021. The hospital received the final approval decision in the summer of 2021.
At that time, the new UNB management decided to have all contracts signed by the former management under internal audit reviewed. The results of the audit showed the need to sign several additions to the contract in question. The last one was signed in early 2022.
Staff members who will serve the heliport have subsequently completed security and technical training and other accompanying technical projects, such as lifts linking the central receiving department with the heliport, have been resolved.