Mr BURKE - 2004-08-19
After three years of Labor government funding constraints, Palmerston and the rural area have one ambulance available to service the area as far as Acacia, Bark Hut, Dundee Beach and, sometimes, as far away as Hayes Creek. I know there are three 24 hours a day, but one of them, Palmerston base, covers all of that area. The volunteer service at Humpty Doo and Batchelor is not available during the day. No wonder that St John’s, who do a great job within the constraints of their funding in meeting the many ambulance needs, is criticised for long response times. The CLP commits to immediately provide two full-time vehicles for the Palmerston and rural area. When will your government make a similar commitment to provide Palmerston and rural residents an adequate ambulance service?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, my understanding is that there are two full-time vehicles at the Palmerston depot, and both are two-stretcher ambulance models. The arrangement is that there is a 24-hour coverage by a crew at that St John depot, with the arrangement that a second crew can come in if the usage levels are high.
A lot of those arrangements are a matter for St John to work out its resources and the distribution of them. The new Humpty Doo police and emergency station is going to be built with the capacity for an ambulance depot to be included in it, if that is a decision of St John, based on the needs. We are surveying that whole area as to both the level of need for medical and emergency services throughout that area, and we will see what the recommendations tell us.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, my understanding is that there are two full-time vehicles at the Palmerston depot, and both are two-stretcher ambulance models. The arrangement is that there is a 24-hour coverage by a crew at that St John depot, with the arrangement that a second crew can come in if the usage levels are high.
A lot of those arrangements are a matter for St John to work out its resources and the distribution of them. The new Humpty Doo police and emergency station is going to be built with the capacity for an ambulance depot to be included in it, if that is a decision of St John, based on the needs. We are surveying that whole area as to both the level of need for medical and emergency services throughout that area, and we will see what the recommendations tell us.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016