15/08/04
Critically ill patients in regional hospitals will have faster access to a metropolitan hospital via the State Government's emergency rescue helicopter.
Emergency Services Minister Michelle Roberts said hospitals can now use RAC Rescue 1 to transfer Priority 1 patients to a tertiary hospital for the same cost as a St John Ambulance.
"This new agreement would enhance our medical services for regional areas by providing an airlift for very ill patients at no additional cost to the regional hospital," Mrs Roberts said.
"The real winners are the patients, because RAC Rescue 1 is fitted out with enhanced specialist medical equipment that ensures seriously ill patients are getting the best possible care during their transit.
"The equipment includes ventilators, an ECG monitor and automatic infusion pump to regulate drips, as well as a St John Ambulance critical care paramedic who has advanced skills and is qualified to administer a higher level of medication."
The Minister said local communities would also benefit, because using RAC Rescue 1 meant it was no longer necessary for either a local doctor or St John Ambulance officer to travel with the patient to Perth.
"This is a major benefit to community safety," she said.
"By having RAC Rescue 1 available it means local medical officers and the ambulance are still available to deal with any other emergency that occurs."
Mrs Roberts said the service would be used primarily by hospitals within a 50km to 200km radius of Perth. It was expected that about 110 hospital transfers would be undertaken annually.
Today's announcement marks tomorrow's one-year anniversary of the Emergency Rescue Helicopter Service.
Special guest of honour 14 year-old Shayne Evans arrived at the celebration on RAC Rescue 1.
"Shayne has no memory of his first ride in RAC Rescue 1 in April this year " the Minister said.
"For his mother, Joanne, it was all too real as she watched the St John Ambulance critical care paramedic work on Shayne as he fought for his life.
"Shayne had accidentally ridden his motorbike off a 14m cliff at a Collie quarry and suffered extensive life threatening injuries, including a hole in his aorta and multiple broken bones. Later both his spleen and a kidney were removed.
"Using RAC Rescue 1, Shayne was airlifted to the specialist trauma centre at Royal Perth Hospital and received the best possible care in the shortest possible time.
"Shayne is a living example of why our Government ensured Western Australians were given an emergency rescue helicopter."
Mrs Roberts said the service had undertaken 108 missions in its first year. Of these, 65 per cent were on scene emergencies, 13 per cent inter-hospital transfers and 22 per cent search and rescue missions.
"Unfortunately the majority of callouts, almost 60 per cent, were responding to some type of accident involving a vehicle or motorbike," she said.
"Other missions have included responding to aircraft, farming and mining accidents, a snake bite and parachute failure."
Minister's office: 9213 6600
