❓ Hon Adele Farina questions the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the Bunbury emergency helicopter service, particularly regarding primary care retrievals and patient transport. The Minister provides a breakdown of helicopter dispatches and reasons for not transporting patients, citing stand-downs, on-scene care, and airport transfers.
AnsweredQoN 4163Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) I refer to the Minister's answer to question on notice No. 4002, and I ask if the new emergency helicopter operating from Bunbury was dispatched 74 times and that 69 of these were for primary care retrievals and 28 patients only were transported to a hospital and there was one only inter-hospital patient transfer, does this mean the helicopter was dispatched 40 times and transported no patients? (2) If yes to (1), has there been a review of the dispatch policy to ensure public money is not being wasted dispatching the Bunbury helicopter when it is not needed? (3) Will the Minister provide details of the 40 times the Bunbury helicopter was dispatched for primary care retrievals and retrieved no patients? (4) If no to (3), why not? (5) I am aware of a helicopter retrieval of a passenger in a single vehicle motor accident in which the patient was transported by air to Perth Royal Hospital, bypassing Busselton Hospital Emergency and Bunbury Hospital Emergency, for a bruised forearm and broken finger, does the Minister think this is a good use of public money and the Bunbury helicopter? (6) In relation to the secondary care inter-hospital patient transfer to Perth by Bunbury helicopter, why was the helicopter used in this instance and not the daily ambulance bus service or an ambulance? (7) In relation to (6), what was the cost incurred for this inter-hospital patient transfer?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
23 August 2016
Responded by
Attorney General representing the Minister for Emergency Services
Response time
63 days
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) advises:
(1) No.
(2) Not applicable.
(3)(a) 24 times, the helicopter was “stood down” en-route to the scene with patient transport not required due to updated information received after dispatch;
(3)(b) Six times, the helicopter arrived at the scene delivering critical care paramedical service, but patient transport was not required;
(3)(c) Eight times, the helicopter airlifted patient/s to an airport for road ambulance transport by St John Ambulance (SJA) to the nearest appropriate hospital – in the event that the hospital did not have a helipad;
(3)(d) Twice, the helicopter airlifted patient/s to an airport – once Wagin, once Albany - for transport by Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) fixed wing air ambulance.
(4) Not applicable.
(5) The circumstances of the case are medical-in-confidence.
(6) At the time of the task, RFDS was the sole service provider and tasking authority for aeromedical Inter-Hospital Patient Transfer (IHPT). Inter-enterprise arrangements are in place between RFDS and SJA for specific Secondary IHPT scenarios. On rare occasions, due to road ambulance availability, traffic congestion or other factors, some time-critical IHPT that would normally be performed by road ambulances, have been conducted by a helicopter.
(7) $4,980 excluding GST.
(1) No.
(2) Not applicable.
(3)(a) 24 times, the helicopter was “stood down” en-route to the scene with patient transport not required due to updated information received after dispatch;
(3)(b) Six times, the helicopter arrived at the scene delivering critical care paramedical service, but patient transport was not required;
(3)(c) Eight times, the helicopter airlifted patient/s to an airport for road ambulance transport by St John Ambulance (SJA) to the nearest appropriate hospital – in the event that the hospital did not have a helipad;
(3)(d) Twice, the helicopter airlifted patient/s to an airport – once Wagin, once Albany - for transport by Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) fixed wing air ambulance.
(4) Not applicable.
(5) The circumstances of the case are medical-in-confidence.
(6) At the time of the task, RFDS was the sole service provider and tasking authority for aeromedical Inter-Hospital Patient Transfer (IHPT). Inter-enterprise arrangements are in place between RFDS and SJA for specific Secondary IHPT scenarios. On rare occasions, due to road ambulance availability, traffic congestion or other factors, some time-critical IHPT that would normally be performed by road ambulances, have been conducted by a helicopter.
(7) $4,980 excluding GST.
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