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❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses ambulance service provision along the Albany Highway, focusing on staffing levels, resource allocation, and service delivery models in various sub-stations. The response provides detailed information on paid and volunteer staff, ambulance numbers, and service coverage.

AnsweredQoN 1099Legislative Council

Asked

15 November 2022

Member

Hon Dr Steve Thomas

Portfolio

Health

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to your answer to question on notice 884 on the provision of ambulance services along the Albany Highway, and I ask: (a) how many paid full time paid ambulance officers are maintained at each of the Narrogin and Albany sub-stations; (b) how many other full time paid ambulance officers are stationed on the Albany Highway and where are they stationed; (c) how many unpaid volunteer ambulance officers are currently rostered on each of the substations along Albany Highway; (d) how many ambulances are stationed at each of the substations along Albany Highway; (e) what is the ratio of paid ambulance officers to unpaid volunteer ambulance officers at each of the substations along Albany Highway; (f) are there any paid ambulance officers working from Katanning and is this level of service adequate; (g) how often have air ambulance services been used along Albany Highway in each of the last four years; (h) how many ambulances along the Albany Highway are capable of carrying two stretchers at once and where are these stationed; (i) what level of personnel are rostered onto each of the substations along Albany Highway, and what proportion of the day does each substation provide cover; and (j) are volunteers permitted or encouraged to take ambulances home after hours and, if so, in how many cases for each of the substations along Albany Highway?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered

14 February 2023

Responded by

Leader of the House representing the Minister for Health

Response time

9 days

(a) There are two paid full-time paramedics at the Narrogin sub-station. There are nine paid full-time paramedics at the Albany sub-station.
(b) There is one paid community paramedic at Narrogin providing coverage for Narrogin, Boddington, Darkan, Wagin, Wickepin, Williams. There is one paid community paramedic at Gnowangerup covering Gnowangerup, Borden, Ongerup, Tambellup, Cranbrook, Frankland. There is one paid community paramedic at Katanning covering Katanning, Kojonup, Kent.
Community paramedics are not designated First Responders but will attend critical incidents when requested and available.
(c)
SUBCENTRE
VOLUNTEERS
SUBCENTRE
VOLUNTEERS
Albany
35
Katanning
18
Narrogin
8
Kojonup
14
Williams
13
Tambellup
8
Darken
12
Cranbrook
14
Wagin
14
Mount Barker
30
(d)
SUBCENTRE
AMBULANCES
SUBCENTRE
AMBULANCES
Albany
7
Katanning
4
Narrogin
1
Kojonup
3
Williams
1
Tambellup
1
Darken
1
Cranbrook
3
Wagin
1
Mount Barker
6
(e)
SUBCENTRE
RATIO
Paid/Volunteers
SUBCENTRE
RATIO
Paid/Volunteers
Albany
9/35
Katanning
0/18
Narrogin
2/8
Kojonup
0/14
Williams
0/13
Tambellup
0/8
Darken
0/12
Cranbrook
0/14
Wagin
0/14
Mount Barker
0/30
(f) There are no paid emergency ambulance officers at Katanning. There are four casual country ambulance transport officers providing Inter Hospital Patient Transport only. St John Ambulance WA (SJA) is currently working with the State to review country ambulance service requirements.
(g) This question should be referred to the Minister for Emergency Services.
(h) There are no ambulances along the Albany Highway with the capability of carrying two stretchers at once.
(i)
SUBCENTRE
RESPONSE
SUBCENTRE
RESPONSE
Albany
2 hybrid crews 24/7
Katanning
2 volunteers rostered on call 24/7
Narrogin
1 hybrid crew 12/7
Volunteer response only for nights
Kojonup
2 volunteers rostered on call 24/7
Williams
Volunteer response only for nights
Tambellup
A call is sent to all active volunteers registered with the sub-centre and two available volunteers are selected to attend.
Darken
Volunteer response only for nights
Cranbrook
A call is sent to all active volunteers registered with the sub-centre and two available volunteers are selected to attend.
Wagin
Volunteer response only for nights
Mount Barker
A call is sent to all active volunteers registered with the sub-centre and two available volunteers are selected to attend.
(j) No. Volunteers are not permitted and not encouraged to take ambulance vehicles home, however regional managers can authorise this in special circumstances. To SJA’s current knowledge, there are no records of this having occurred.

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