Qld RFDS Fails Qld Health Audit

[megle2]

According to the Courier Mail newspaper the Qld RFDS failed their audit and are lucky there has not been an accident.


Royal Flying Doctor Service at risk of being grounded after damning audit report
STEVEN WARDILL, DAMON GUPPY
THE COURIER-MAIL
MARCH 26, 2015 4:25PM

Queensland’s Royal Flying Doctor Service is in danger of being grounded.
Queensland’s Royal Flying Doctor Service is in danger of being grounded.
ROYAL Flying Doctor Service bosses say all of their planes and procedures meet aeromedical regulations, despite a damning government audit report warning of a “preventable incident or accident”.

The RFDS met with Queensland Health this afternoon after The Courier-Mail revealed a report by the department revealed the historic service was at risk of being grounded because of chronic under-investment in both aircraft and flight crew.

RFDS chairman Bill Mellor said patient and staff safety was a priority for the 87-year-old service.

“The maintenance of RFDS aircraft and flight safety has always and continues to meet the required standards set by the aviation safety regulator CASA,” he said.

“When first made aware of the findings of this complex and technical report, we immediately worked through the detail and have provided Queensland Health with a comprehensive response.”

Mr Mellor declined to elaborate on the RFDS’ plans to rectify the issues raised in the report out of “courtesy” to Queensland Health.

OVERNIGHT: QUEENSLAND’S historic flying doctors service is at risk of being grounded after a damn*ing audit report warned it was hurtling towards a “preventable incident or accident”.

The report found the Royal Flying Doctor Service’s safety problems were so severe that it would have already had its wings clipped under standards commonly applied by mining companies with their contracted airlines.

The independent audit ordered by Queensland Health and delivered this month found chronic under-investment in both aircraft and flight crew.

“The outcomes for a business displaying this style of corporate culture are that they are more likely to suffer from a preventable incident or accident,” the audit states.

It is understood the report prompted chief health officer Jeannette Young to write to RFDSQ chief Nino Di Marco warning that the service’s Queensland Health contract may be scrapped.

The report found RFDSQ’s planned purchase of a new Kingair B350 plane would only exacerbate the problems as management had not assigned the required addi*tional resources.

“If an attempt to introduce the B350 occurred before the findings are addressed and *operations are rebuilt, it would seriously overload the organisation and would further reduce the capability of the organisation to provide a safe environment,” it stated.

Mr Di Marco said that the service was working with Queensland Health to “review and clarify” the audit’s findings.

“It should be noted the audit found that flight safety had not been compromised,” he said.

HealthMinister Cameron Dick said while there was “no immediate risk”, the audit results were “troubling”.

“Ihave asked the department to address the audit issues as a matter of priority,” he said.

“Iwant to work with the RFDS to ensure patients and staff are safe and that the RFDS stays in the skies over Queensland.”

[Johnny_56]

QLD health would be auditing the health side of it surely? Nothing to do with the flying (accident risk) or does CASA outsource their responsibilities over there?

[Arm out the window]

And as a totally uninformed observer, I would still have to ask who at Queensland Health would be tasked with the audit from a flight ops point of view - someone with experience in the job, a contracted auditor with the requisite expertise, or what?

[PLovett]

The independent audit ordered by Queensland Health and delivered this month found chronic under-investment in both aircraft and flight crew.

The word independent would suggest that the audit was performed by a 3rd party auditor rather than Q'land Health itself. Would love to read the findings given some of the shenanigans that went on with the recent Central Division EBA negotiations.

[Ixixly]

As I understand this, Queensland Health have conducted their own Audit but it seems like it's not on the Flying side of things it has more to do with their Ground Operations as part of the Contract and their requirements to meet certain standards under the contract, can anyone confirm this?

Anyone heard any whispers about what this "Damning Report" has claimed?

[Jabawocky]

I know exactly who did the audit. It was not a ground / healthcare audit, it was aviation. Qld Health commissioned professionals to conduct it externally by an independant specialist group.

I have some observations and from knowing several folk involved some sideline knowledge and here is the catch, at no time did I get the impression the RFDS was unsafe. Quite the opposite, although management needed a big shake up from the top down. The folk at the coal face were for the greater part doing a good job.

My suspicions are these;
1. Massive media beat up to begin with, as you would expect.
2. Senior management somehow not listening/understanding front line folk and not providing enough company support/staff/crew or whatever it is that is lacking
3. Qld Health are not paying enough to the RFDS to provide the above.

The devil is always in the detail. And I would need to get closer to the truth to comment further. I am only a casual (& interested given my daughters career) observer from the outside.

I am going to be offline a bit over the next few days teaching an APS class, but if I can I will see if I can dig some facts up rather than let media frenzy beat up a storm.

My big fear is, just like Victoria, and the regional air routes, this could be used by those with a commercial interest to drive a wedge and shaft RFDS. I wonder what the auditors would say about that lot? :ooh: I know who I would prefer.

To those of you who I know and don't know at the RFDS….head down and keep doing a good job. :ok:

[spinex]

From the little I know of the operation, I tend to side with Jaba on this, sounds as though someone has their own agenda and is flying the old "but think of the children" false flag to achieve it.

I have learnt to be very suspicious of non-specific media leaks like this. By the time the truth comes out, most people have had the connection RFDS=Unsafe made for them so often that this is all they retain. I don't know too many organisations that couldn't be made to look bad if measured against a standard intended for a different industry sector. Lets face it, mining in boom times drove safety in all related sectors to lengths which many consider absurd and unsustainable - the over-riding principle being that if you didn't increase the standard applied last year, you were failing. Anyone priced the cost of mine speccing a ute lately? :ugh:

[chimbu warrior]

Queensland Health would appear to be unfamiliar with the old adage about people living in glass houses.............multi-storey office blocks in the CBD in this case.

[feetonthedash]

Queensland Health are worst in the country
What a joke listening to them they are all whinging POM imports
:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

[catseye]

Well who were the auditors...".... Do they work for a charter broker...... Are they credible.... Did they work for casa ...... Have they been seen attempting to consult in png..... All will be revealed :cool::cool::cool::rolleyes:

Were they using rules not yet promulgated????

[Section28- BE]

I'll second, what Mr Eye of Cat said............

Rgds
S28- BE

[Section28- BE]

Hmmm- righteo, for what it's worth......

Given, the 'said' article, does not quote the 'actual' audit practitioners, nor their authority/competency/qualifications/or Legislative Relevance- seems 'strange'....., to me (but, a lot does)- (Is the actual Regulator busy, ripping the recorders out of a Westwind in 49mts of water at NLK this week...????).

Also, it does not appear to be a Queensland Health initiated formal 'Audit Release' (as in- "after The Courier-Mail revealed a report by the department"), per-chance, leakage...????

'Apparently/Allegedly/So I'm Given to Understand/According to the Neighbours Cat in Consultation, with the 'Esteemed' TSV Refueller.........'- it was whispered over the back fence, apparently- maybe, a crew called TechSafe Aviation????.......... 'Apparently' (whom so ever they maybe????).

Whilst, I'll happily accept Jabba's knowledge of the actual Audit Practitioners, as a- 'professional/ independent specialist group'- (any related or third party issues declared in the preface/preamble of the report???).

Given the premise of Commercial Aviation Auditing, e.g.- we are providing an opinion for enrichment/reward- with no Regulatory Responsibility/Warranty, - where the Bloody Hell is the Regulator......, (leaving aside the status/public charity contributions to 'part' fund the organisation/operation).

What NCN's/MEL's were/are they carrying, etc. at the last CASA Audit, being the Legislated Audit to comply with The Commonwealth Act (a higher Legislative Authority than Qld Health, via Royal Assent)- what is outstanding, where is the 'actual' Regulator on this grave and pressing issue, there is public and charitable monies being expended in good faith here......

So if/being that-

"Queensland’s Royal Flying Doctor Service is in danger of being grounded."

When, based on this report, will CASA issue the Grounding/Show Cause...??????

Got to be time for the Regulator (and all involved in this particular Audit) to become visible in broad daylight, in the interest of all involved and associated with this particularly unique operation, let alone those that actually depend on it for the originally designed purpose of the operation.

Because, I can promise you that once you get West of the Great Divide- Qld Health's operational capacity wont save you.

Good Weekend all
Rgds
S28- BE

[jas24zzk]

Of course some of the RFDS's operations are high risk.

They have 3 modes.

Clinical. Flying medical teams around the country to provide medical services to remote communities. Pre-planned missions to prepared destinations. Low Risk.

Transfer. Moving patients between locations... Pre-planned and low risk.


Evac. Dropping into un-prepared strips, often at night, with minimal planning. Crew discretion at the moment....VERY high risk.

Evac ops are where the risk is, and it does not matter who you contract it to, the risks will always remain...unless you rule the evac side out of the operation. RFDS are in the top 5 in the world for evac capability, and the blokes that fly for them are not cowboys.

This is a political beat up for someones financial agenda.
High time the RFDS was made a government institution with all the funding and dispensations that go with it.

Cheers
Jas

[Jabawocky]

I have no access to the terms of reference issued to the audit team and so I can't comment, but this is not a regulatry audit as best I can tell. It is a "whole of business" and pardon the pun health check.

In other words no different to a mining company or any other independent customer audit. Lets keep that fair and square in mind.

I can only assume a big leak either at Qld Health of RFDS and I was stunned to read about it to be honest.

This bit here has me most alert….think alarm bells and warning signs.
The report found RFDSQ’s planned purchase of a new Kingair B350 plane would only exacerbate the problems as management had not assigned the required addi*tional resources.

“If an attempt to introduce the B350 occurred before the findings are addressed and *operations are rebuilt, it would seriously overload the organisation and would further reduce the capability of the organisation to provide a safe environment,” it stated.

I have no doubt RFDS are generally safe. Ansett was also, and most of its operations were too until the hastily and under staffed under resourced B747 service was rolled out. The accident in Sydney had its origins firmly imprinted at the beginning.

There is an excellent internal video from Ansett on how they ended up with a B747 on its nose and how several little things were not so little as it turned out. If anyone has it or a link it would be awesome to see again. The media statement above has a familiar ring to it and I know a B350 is not much more than a B200 but the 747 was not much different to all the other Ansett Boeings either.

Just my casual observation. And no, my phone calls were not returned so I am still guessing.

[Rodney Rotorslap]

Some people tend to forget why the RFDS exists. As if Qld Health and the Courier-Mail have the credibility to sit in judgement on this fine institution.

[440]

Geez Jas, imagine the management structure if is was gumbiment owned. Do you think that the coal face would be listened to then?:ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh:

[megle2]

The Qld Gov have joined the Police Air Wing, the Emergency Services choppers and the Air Wing into one unit recently so Jaz you could add the RFDS to have one great empire, imagine that

[jas24zzk]

I dunno, but if you were to centralise the management In Vic, everyone in the company would be enjoying the benefits of 'membership' of being a state employee..
Some of the lurks and perks getting handed out here atm are just ludicrous!!

Those at the coal face won't be so sad, their pay will be better than the PM's :ugh:

Seriously tho, its just further evidence the country is being run by suck-holes.


Who in the hell finds reward in a job where you spend your entire time making simple stuff hard!

I'm off to cure my depression now.

[Pilot58]

Of course some of the RFDS's operations are high risk.

They have 3 modes.

Clinical. Flying medical teams around the country to provide medical services to remote communities. Pre-planned missions to prepared destinations. Low Risk.

Transfer. Moving patients between locations... Pre-planned and low risk.


Evac. Dropping into un-prepared strips, often at night, with minimal planning. Crew discretion at the moment....VERY high risk.

Evac ops are where the risk is, and it does not matter who you contract it to, the risks will always remain...unless you rule the evac side out of the operation. RFDS are in the top 5 in the world for evac capability, and the blokes that fly for them are not cowboys.

This is a political beat up for someones financial agenda.
High time the RFDS was made a government institution with all the funding and dispensations that go with it.

Cheers
Jas

Actually they were originally only supposed to fly the critical injured people now they fly ingrown toe nails and even worse sometimes