Beijing hospital opens new helipad

An ambulance helicopter lands on the roof of a new parking structure opened at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing on August 29, 2017. [Photo: VCG]

A four-storey parking garage was inaugurated at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing on Tuesday, August 29, 2017. It's designed to help alleviate parking problems and provide better air rescue services for critically ill patients.

An ambulance helicopter takes off from the roof of a new parking structure opened at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing on August 29, 2017. [Photo: VCG]

The newly-opened structure has the largest amount of parking among all hospitals in Beijing, allowing parking for nearly 370 vehicles. The roof of the new structure is a 24-hour rescue platform for ambulance helicopters, allowing emergency transfers to take place at night.

Helicopters are starting to take on a more important role in emergency situations in China.

Medical staff stand in front of an ambulance helicopter at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing on August 29, 2017. [Photo: VCG]

"The hospital will cooperate with the 999 Emergency Rescue Center group, as well as SOS Home Emergency Rescue and other organizations worldwide to establish a more convenient, standardized and internationalized air emergency transport system," said Wang Chen, President of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital.