People around the Cypress Regional Hospital might start seeing helicopters landing nearby again.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority announced that the new helicopter landing pad on the east side of the Cypress Regional Hospital is operational now.

STARS had been landing at the Swift Current Airport since October 2017, but that's changed now. As of late last week the new pad became operational for the air ambulance service to pick up patients.

In a release the SHA said it'll make for a more-timely response when someone needs to be transported.

A temporary spot was used for helicopters to land for a bit before the move to the airport two falls ago. That was on the west side of the hospital. The heliport before that was on the east side, but wasn't up to regulations.