❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses concerns about changes to the St John Ambulance 000 call diversion process in the South West, questioning the safety and efficiency of directing calls away from hospitals to a centralised system and mobile phones.
AnsweredQoN 706Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the 000 emergency number for the St John Ambulance service in the south west of Western Australia. (1) When did the St John Ambulance headquarters in Belmont stop diverting the 000 emergencies to country hospitals? (2) How many hospitals in the south west have stopped providing this vital service? (3) What is the reason for taking this vital service from hospitals and diverting it to mobile phones in areas where coverage is sometimes nonexistent? (4) Does the government see this practice as extremely dangerous in country areas given that a call can go to three, four or five mobile phones and then be diverted back to Belmont only to be diverted to another substation, all of which takes precious time? This happens in my town. Hon SUE ELLERY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Telstra emergency call centre has for several years been progressively directing 000 calls for St John Ambulance in rural Western Australia to the St John Ambulance Australia WA Ambulance Service communications centre at Belmont. In May 2005, following the upgrading of its communication systems, a program to pass all 000 ambulance calls to Belmont commenced. This will be completed in all 103 subcentres by December 2005. (2) Currently, 59 ambulance subcentres have moved to the new communications system. At the completion of the new communications system rollout, no rural hospitals in Western Australia will receive calls for St John Ambulance. (3) Rural hospitals are not staffed to provide this communication service for St John Ambulance. The Belmont communications centre staff are in a better position to assist the caller than either the hospitals or subcentres. (4) No. A trained person at the Belmont communications centre will always handle these calls. When necessary, this officer will stay online to provide ongoing advice until the ambulance arrives. Calls forwarded to rural paramedics may use static and mobile telephones, and the technology allows all listed numbers for an ambulance subcentre to be called concurrently, so there is no delay.
(1) When did the St John Ambulance headquarters in Belmont stop diverting the 000 emergencies to country hospitals? (2) How many hospitals in the south west have stopped providing this vital service? (3) What is the reason for taking this vital service from hospitals and diverting it to mobile phones in areas where coverage is sometimes nonexistent? (4) Does the government see this practice as extremely dangerous in country areas given that a call can go to three, four or five mobile phones and then be diverted back to Belmont only to be diverted to another substation, all of which takes precious time? This happens in my town. Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Telstra emergency call centre has for several years been progressively directing 000 calls for St John Ambulance in rural Western Australia to the St John Ambulance Australia WA Ambulance Service communications centre at Belmont. In May 2005, following the upgrading of its communication systems, a program to pass all 000 ambulance calls to Belmont commenced. This will be completed in all 103 subcentres by December 2005. (2) Currently, 59 ambulance subcentres have moved to the new communications system. At the completion of the new communications system rollout, no rural hospitals in Western Australia will receive calls for St John Ambulance. (3) Rural hospitals are not staffed to provide this communication service for St John Ambulance. The Belmont communications centre staff are in a better position to assist the caller than either the hospitals or subcentres. (4) No. A trained person at the Belmont communications centre will always handle these calls. When necessary, this officer will stay online to provide ongoing advice until the ambulance arrives. Calls forwarded to rural paramedics may use static and mobile telephones, and the technology allows all listed numbers for an ambulance subcentre to be called concurrently, so there is no delay.
(2) How many hospitals in the south west have stopped providing this vital service? (3) What is the reason for taking this vital service from hospitals and diverting it to mobile phones in areas where coverage is sometimes nonexistent? (4) Does the government see this practice as extremely dangerous in country areas given that a call can go to three, four or five mobile phones and then be diverted back to Belmont only to be diverted to another substation, all of which takes precious time? This happens in my town. Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Telstra emergency call centre has for several years been progressively directing 000 calls for St John Ambulance in rural Western Australia to the St John Ambulance Australia WA Ambulance Service communications centre at Belmont. In May 2005, following the upgrading of its communication systems, a program to pass all 000 ambulance calls to Belmont commenced. This will be completed in all 103 subcentres by December 2005. (2) Currently, 59 ambulance subcentres have moved to the new communications system. At the completion of the new communications system rollout, no rural hospitals in Western Australia will receive calls for St John Ambulance. (3) Rural hospitals are not staffed to provide this communication service for St John Ambulance. The Belmont communications centre staff are in a better position to assist the caller than either the hospitals or subcentres. (4) No. A trained person at the Belmont communications centre will always handle these calls. When necessary, this officer will stay online to provide ongoing advice until the ambulance arrives. Calls forwarded to rural paramedics may use static and mobile telephones, and the technology allows all listed numbers for an ambulance subcentre to be called concurrently, so there is no delay.
(3) What is the reason for taking this vital service from hospitals and diverting it to mobile phones in areas where coverage is sometimes nonexistent? (4) Does the government see this practice as extremely dangerous in country areas given that a call can go to three, four or five mobile phones and then be diverted back to Belmont only to be diverted to another substation, all of which takes precious time? This happens in my town. Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Telstra emergency call centre has for several years been progressively directing 000 calls for St John Ambulance in rural Western Australia to the St John Ambulance Australia WA Ambulance Service communications centre at Belmont. In May 2005, following the upgrading of its communication systems, a program to pass all 000 ambulance calls to Belmont commenced. This will be completed in all 103 subcentres by December 2005. (2) Currently, 59 ambulance subcentres have moved to the new communications system. At the completion of the new communications system rollout, no rural hospitals in Western Australia will receive calls for St John Ambulance. (3) Rural hospitals are not staffed to provide this communication service for St John Ambulance. The Belmont communications centre staff are in a better position to assist the caller than either the hospitals or subcentres. (4) No. A trained person at the Belmont communications centre will always handle these calls. When necessary, this officer will stay online to provide ongoing advice until the ambulance arrives. Calls forwarded to rural paramedics may use static and mobile telephones, and the technology allows all listed numbers for an ambulance subcentre to be called concurrently, so there is no delay.
(4) Does the government see this practice as extremely dangerous in country areas given that a call can go to three, four or five mobile phones and then be diverted back to Belmont only to be diverted to another substation, all of which takes precious time? This happens in my town. Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Telstra emergency call centre has for several years been progressively directing 000 calls for St John Ambulance in rural Western Australia to the St John Ambulance Australia WA Ambulance Service communications centre at Belmont. In May 2005, following the upgrading of its communication systems, a program to pass all 000 ambulance calls to Belmont commenced. This will be completed in all 103 subcentres by December 2005. (2) Currently, 59 ambulance subcentres have moved to the new communications system. At the completion of the new communications system rollout, no rural hospitals in Western Australia will receive calls for St John Ambulance. (3) Rural hospitals are not staffed to provide this communication service for St John Ambulance. The Belmont communications centre staff are in a better position to assist the caller than either the hospitals or subcentres. (4) No. A trained person at the Belmont communications centre will always handle these calls. When necessary, this officer will stay online to provide ongoing advice until the ambulance arrives. Calls forwarded to rural paramedics may use static and mobile telephones, and the technology allows all listed numbers for an ambulance subcentre to be called concurrently, so there is no delay.
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Telstra emergency call centre has for several years been progressively directing 000 calls for St John Ambulance in rural Western Australia to the St John Ambulance Australia WA Ambulance Service communications centre at Belmont. In May 2005, following the upgrading of its communication systems, a program to pass all 000 ambulance calls to Belmont commenced. This will be completed in all 103 subcentres by December 2005. (2) Currently, 59 ambulance subcentres have moved to the new communications system. At the completion of the new communications system rollout, no rural hospitals in Western Australia will receive calls for St John Ambulance. (3) Rural hospitals are not staffed to provide this communication service for St John Ambulance. The Belmont communications centre staff are in a better position to assist the caller than either the hospitals or subcentres. (4) No. A trained person at the Belmont communications centre will always handle these calls. When necessary, this officer will stay online to provide ongoing advice until the ambulance arrives. Calls forwarded to rural paramedics may use static and mobile telephones, and the technology allows all listed numbers for an ambulance subcentre to be called concurrently, so there is no delay.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Telstra emergency call centre has for several years been progressively directing 000 calls for St John Ambulance in rural Western Australia to the St John Ambulance Australia WA Ambulance Service communications centre at Belmont. In May 2005, following the upgrading of its communication systems, a program to pass all 000 ambulance calls to Belmont commenced. This will be completed in all 103 subcentres by December 2005. (2) Currently, 59 ambulance subcentres have moved to the new communications system. At the completion of the new communications system rollout, no rural hospitals in Western Australia will receive calls for St John Ambulance. (3) Rural hospitals are not staffed to provide this communication service for St John Ambulance. The Belmont communications centre staff are in a better position to assist the caller than either the hospitals or subcentres. (4) No. A trained person at the Belmont communications centre will always handle these calls. When necessary, this officer will stay online to provide ongoing advice until the ambulance arrives. Calls forwarded to rural paramedics may use static and mobile telephones, and the technology allows all listed numbers for an ambulance subcentre to be called concurrently, so there is no delay.
(1) The Telstra emergency call centre has for several years been progressively directing 000 calls for St John Ambulance in rural Western Australia to the St John Ambulance Australia WA Ambulance Service communications centre at Belmont. In May 2005, following the upgrading of its communication systems, a program to pass all 000 ambulance calls to Belmont commenced. This will be completed in all 103 subcentres by December 2005. (2) Currently, 59 ambulance subcentres have moved to the new communications system. At the completion of the new communications system rollout, no rural hospitals in Western Australia will receive calls for St John Ambulance. (3) Rural hospitals are not staffed to provide this communication service for St John Ambulance. The Belmont communications centre staff are in a better position to assist the caller than either the hospitals or subcentres. (4) No. A trained person at the Belmont communications centre will always handle these calls. When necessary, this officer will stay online to provide ongoing advice until the ambulance arrives. Calls forwarded to rural paramedics may use static and mobile telephones, and the technology allows all listed numbers for an ambulance subcentre to be called concurrently, so there is no delay.
(2) Currently, 59 ambulance subcentres have moved to the new communications system. At the completion of the new communications system rollout, no rural hospitals in Western Australia will receive calls for St John Ambulance. (3) Rural hospitals are not staffed to provide this communication service for St John Ambulance. The Belmont communications centre staff are in a better position to assist the caller than either the hospitals or subcentres. (4) No. A trained person at the Belmont communications centre will always handle these calls. When necessary, this officer will stay online to provide ongoing advice until the ambulance arrives. Calls forwarded to rural paramedics may use static and mobile telephones, and the technology allows all listed numbers for an ambulance subcentre to be called concurrently, so there is no delay.
(3) Rural hospitals are not staffed to provide this communication service for St John Ambulance. The Belmont communications centre staff are in a better position to assist the caller than either the hospitals or subcentres. (4) No. A trained person at the Belmont communications centre will always handle these calls. When necessary, this officer will stay online to provide ongoing advice until the ambulance arrives. Calls forwarded to rural paramedics may use static and mobile telephones, and the technology allows all listed numbers for an ambulance subcentre to be called concurrently, so there is no delay.
(4) No. A trained person at the Belmont communications centre will always handle these calls. When necessary, this officer will stay online to provide ongoing advice until the ambulance arrives. Calls forwarded to rural paramedics may use static and mobile telephones, and the technology allows all listed numbers for an ambulance subcentre to be called concurrently, so there is no delay.
(1) When did the St John Ambulance headquarters in Belmont stop diverting the 000 emergencies to country hospitals? (2) How many hospitals in the south west have stopped providing this vital service? (3) What is the reason for taking this vital service from hospitals and diverting it to mobile phones in areas where coverage is sometimes nonexistent? (4) Does the government see this practice as extremely dangerous in country areas given that a call can go to three, four or five mobile phones and then be diverted back to Belmont only to be diverted to another substation, all of which takes precious time? This happens in my town. Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Telstra emergency call centre has for several years been progressively directing 000 calls for St John Ambulance in rural Western Australia to the St John Ambulance Australia WA Ambulance Service communications centre at Belmont. In May 2005, following the upgrading of its communication systems, a program to pass all 000 ambulance calls to Belmont commenced. This will be completed in all 103 subcentres by December 2005. (2) Currently, 59 ambulance subcentres have moved to the new communications system. At the completion of the new communications system rollout, no rural hospitals in Western Australia will receive calls for St John Ambulance. (3) Rural hospitals are not staffed to provide this communication service for St John Ambulance. The Belmont communications centre staff are in a better position to assist the caller than either the hospitals or subcentres. (4) No. A trained person at the Belmont communications centre will always handle these calls. When necessary, this officer will stay online to provide ongoing advice until the ambulance arrives. Calls forwarded to rural paramedics may use static and mobile telephones, and the technology allows all listed numbers for an ambulance subcentre to be called concurrently, so there is no delay.
(2) How many hospitals in the south west have stopped providing this vital service? (3) What is the reason for taking this vital service from hospitals and diverting it to mobile phones in areas where coverage is sometimes nonexistent? (4) Does the government see this practice as extremely dangerous in country areas given that a call can go to three, four or five mobile phones and then be diverted back to Belmont only to be diverted to another substation, all of which takes precious time? This happens in my town. Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Telstra emergency call centre has for several years been progressively directing 000 calls for St John Ambulance in rural Western Australia to the St John Ambulance Australia WA Ambulance Service communications centre at Belmont. In May 2005, following the upgrading of its communication systems, a program to pass all 000 ambulance calls to Belmont commenced. This will be completed in all 103 subcentres by December 2005. (2) Currently, 59 ambulance subcentres have moved to the new communications system. At the completion of the new communications system rollout, no rural hospitals in Western Australia will receive calls for St John Ambulance. (3) Rural hospitals are not staffed to provide this communication service for St John Ambulance. The Belmont communications centre staff are in a better position to assist the caller than either the hospitals or subcentres. (4) No. A trained person at the Belmont communications centre will always handle these calls. When necessary, this officer will stay online to provide ongoing advice until the ambulance arrives. Calls forwarded to rural paramedics may use static and mobile telephones, and the technology allows all listed numbers for an ambulance subcentre to be called concurrently, so there is no delay.
(3) What is the reason for taking this vital service from hospitals and diverting it to mobile phones in areas where coverage is sometimes nonexistent? (4) Does the government see this practice as extremely dangerous in country areas given that a call can go to three, four or five mobile phones and then be diverted back to Belmont only to be diverted to another substation, all of which takes precious time? This happens in my town. Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Telstra emergency call centre has for several years been progressively directing 000 calls for St John Ambulance in rural Western Australia to the St John Ambulance Australia WA Ambulance Service communications centre at Belmont. In May 2005, following the upgrading of its communication systems, a program to pass all 000 ambulance calls to Belmont commenced. This will be completed in all 103 subcentres by December 2005. (2) Currently, 59 ambulance subcentres have moved to the new communications system. At the completion of the new communications system rollout, no rural hospitals in Western Australia will receive calls for St John Ambulance. (3) Rural hospitals are not staffed to provide this communication service for St John Ambulance. The Belmont communications centre staff are in a better position to assist the caller than either the hospitals or subcentres. (4) No. A trained person at the Belmont communications centre will always handle these calls. When necessary, this officer will stay online to provide ongoing advice until the ambulance arrives. Calls forwarded to rural paramedics may use static and mobile telephones, and the technology allows all listed numbers for an ambulance subcentre to be called concurrently, so there is no delay.
(4) Does the government see this practice as extremely dangerous in country areas given that a call can go to three, four or five mobile phones and then be diverted back to Belmont only to be diverted to another substation, all of which takes precious time? This happens in my town. Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Telstra emergency call centre has for several years been progressively directing 000 calls for St John Ambulance in rural Western Australia to the St John Ambulance Australia WA Ambulance Service communications centre at Belmont. In May 2005, following the upgrading of its communication systems, a program to pass all 000 ambulance calls to Belmont commenced. This will be completed in all 103 subcentres by December 2005. (2) Currently, 59 ambulance subcentres have moved to the new communications system. At the completion of the new communications system rollout, no rural hospitals in Western Australia will receive calls for St John Ambulance. (3) Rural hospitals are not staffed to provide this communication service for St John Ambulance. The Belmont communications centre staff are in a better position to assist the caller than either the hospitals or subcentres. (4) No. A trained person at the Belmont communications centre will always handle these calls. When necessary, this officer will stay online to provide ongoing advice until the ambulance arrives. Calls forwarded to rural paramedics may use static and mobile telephones, and the technology allows all listed numbers for an ambulance subcentre to be called concurrently, so there is no delay.
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Telstra emergency call centre has for several years been progressively directing 000 calls for St John Ambulance in rural Western Australia to the St John Ambulance Australia WA Ambulance Service communications centre at Belmont. In May 2005, following the upgrading of its communication systems, a program to pass all 000 ambulance calls to Belmont commenced. This will be completed in all 103 subcentres by December 2005. (2) Currently, 59 ambulance subcentres have moved to the new communications system. At the completion of the new communications system rollout, no rural hospitals in Western Australia will receive calls for St John Ambulance. (3) Rural hospitals are not staffed to provide this communication service for St John Ambulance. The Belmont communications centre staff are in a better position to assist the caller than either the hospitals or subcentres. (4) No. A trained person at the Belmont communications centre will always handle these calls. When necessary, this officer will stay online to provide ongoing advice until the ambulance arrives. Calls forwarded to rural paramedics may use static and mobile telephones, and the technology allows all listed numbers for an ambulance subcentre to be called concurrently, so there is no delay.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Telstra emergency call centre has for several years been progressively directing 000 calls for St John Ambulance in rural Western Australia to the St John Ambulance Australia WA Ambulance Service communications centre at Belmont. In May 2005, following the upgrading of its communication systems, a program to pass all 000 ambulance calls to Belmont commenced. This will be completed in all 103 subcentres by December 2005. (2) Currently, 59 ambulance subcentres have moved to the new communications system. At the completion of the new communications system rollout, no rural hospitals in Western Australia will receive calls for St John Ambulance. (3) Rural hospitals are not staffed to provide this communication service for St John Ambulance. The Belmont communications centre staff are in a better position to assist the caller than either the hospitals or subcentres. (4) No. A trained person at the Belmont communications centre will always handle these calls. When necessary, this officer will stay online to provide ongoing advice until the ambulance arrives. Calls forwarded to rural paramedics may use static and mobile telephones, and the technology allows all listed numbers for an ambulance subcentre to be called concurrently, so there is no delay.
(1) The Telstra emergency call centre has for several years been progressively directing 000 calls for St John Ambulance in rural Western Australia to the St John Ambulance Australia WA Ambulance Service communications centre at Belmont. In May 2005, following the upgrading of its communication systems, a program to pass all 000 ambulance calls to Belmont commenced. This will be completed in all 103 subcentres by December 2005. (2) Currently, 59 ambulance subcentres have moved to the new communications system. At the completion of the new communications system rollout, no rural hospitals in Western Australia will receive calls for St John Ambulance. (3) Rural hospitals are not staffed to provide this communication service for St John Ambulance. The Belmont communications centre staff are in a better position to assist the caller than either the hospitals or subcentres. (4) No. A trained person at the Belmont communications centre will always handle these calls. When necessary, this officer will stay online to provide ongoing advice until the ambulance arrives. Calls forwarded to rural paramedics may use static and mobile telephones, and the technology allows all listed numbers for an ambulance subcentre to be called concurrently, so there is no delay.
(2) Currently, 59 ambulance subcentres have moved to the new communications system. At the completion of the new communications system rollout, no rural hospitals in Western Australia will receive calls for St John Ambulance. (3) Rural hospitals are not staffed to provide this communication service for St John Ambulance. The Belmont communications centre staff are in a better position to assist the caller than either the hospitals or subcentres. (4) No. A trained person at the Belmont communications centre will always handle these calls. When necessary, this officer will stay online to provide ongoing advice until the ambulance arrives. Calls forwarded to rural paramedics may use static and mobile telephones, and the technology allows all listed numbers for an ambulance subcentre to be called concurrently, so there is no delay.
(3) Rural hospitals are not staffed to provide this communication service for St John Ambulance. The Belmont communications centre staff are in a better position to assist the caller than either the hospitals or subcentres. (4) No. A trained person at the Belmont communications centre will always handle these calls. When necessary, this officer will stay online to provide ongoing advice until the ambulance arrives. Calls forwarded to rural paramedics may use static and mobile telephones, and the technology allows all listed numbers for an ambulance subcentre to be called concurrently, so there is no delay.
(4) No. A trained person at the Belmont communications centre will always handle these calls. When necessary, this officer will stay online to provide ongoing advice until the ambulance arrives. Calls forwarded to rural paramedics may use static and mobile telephones, and the technology allows all listed numbers for an ambulance subcentre to be called concurrently, so there is no delay.
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