Jan Palfijn Hospital Heliport

The heliport was closed and subsequently demolished as part of a large-scale renovation and expansion of the Jan Palfijn Hospital. The building wing on which the rooftop helipad was situated was torn down to make way for a new, modern structure. The hospital administration decided against building a new helipad on the replacement building due to the high cost, structural complexity, and the operational availability of a nearby heliport at the Ghent University Hospital (UZ Gent).

The site of the former heliport no longer exists. The original structure has been replaced by a new hospital wing. The AZ Jan Palfijn hospital is fully operational but no longer has an on-site heliport. Emergency patients arriving by helicopter are now typically landed at the nearby UZ Gent (Ghent University Hospital) heliport and then transferred to Jan Palfijn via a short ground ambulance ride.

The Jan Palfijn Hospital Heliport was a critical piece of infrastructure for the regional emergency medical system. As a rooftop helipad, it provided direct and rapid access for Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS). It was primarily used by the Belgian MUG-heli (Medische Urgentiegroep / Groupe Médical d'Urgence) to transport trauma patients and critically ill individuals to and from the hospital's intensive care and emergency departments. Its existence significantly reduced transfer times for time-sensitive medical cases, playing a vital role in the chain of survival for many years.

There are no known plans or prospects to reopen or build a new heliport at the Jan Palfijn Hospital. The strategic decision made during the 2012 renovation to rely on the nearby UZ Gent facility for helicopter arrivals remains in effect. The high cost and logistical challenges of retrofitting a heliport onto the new buildings make a future installation unlikely.