❓ Question regarding the review and tabling of policies and guidelines for the emergency helicopter service used to transport regional patients. The answer clarifies the roles of different agencies and indicates a review is underway for the Department of Health's guideline.
AnsweredQoN 3724Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the emergency helicopter service used to transport regional patients, and I ask: (a) when will the policy and guidelines regarding patient transport by helicopter next be reviewed; (b) will the Minister table the current policy and guidelines; and (c) if no to (b), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 December 2015
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Health
Response time
41 days
Answer as at 21 October 2015 -
(a) The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) are tasked by Government to operate the Emergency Rescue Helicopter Service (ERHS). DFES has developed (in conjunction with St John Ambulance WA and Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Western Operations) an Emergency Rescue Helicopter Service Tasking Guideline (the Guideline). The Guideline dictates that St John Ambulance be the primary tasking authority for the ERHS for all primary retrieval patients and RFDS for all inter-hospital transfer patients. All decisions relating to the tasking of the ERHS for patient transfer are made by these agencies and not by the Department of Health. Questions about the review of the DFES Guideline should be directed to the Minister for Emergency Services.
The Department of Health has a guideline for Preparation for Interhospital Patient Transfer by Emergency Rescue Helicopter, which is about preparing patients to be transferred. This guideline is presently undergoing review.
(b) [See tabled paper no].
(c) Not applicable.
(a) The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) are tasked by Government to operate the Emergency Rescue Helicopter Service (ERHS). DFES has developed (in conjunction with St John Ambulance WA and Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Western Operations) an Emergency Rescue Helicopter Service Tasking Guideline (the Guideline). The Guideline dictates that St John Ambulance be the primary tasking authority for the ERHS for all primary retrieval patients and RFDS for all inter-hospital transfer patients. All decisions relating to the tasking of the ERHS for patient transfer are made by these agencies and not by the Department of Health. Questions about the review of the DFES Guideline should be directed to the Minister for Emergency Services.
The Department of Health has a guideline for Preparation for Interhospital Patient Transfer by Emergency Rescue Helicopter, which is about preparing patients to be transferred. This guideline is presently undergoing review.
(b) [See tabled paper no].
(c) Not applicable.
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