NSW EMS (NGO or Private operator)

[sand blaster]

Should NSW stay with the NGO model or become government run with a private aircraft contract. Vetskone states this topic deserves Robust Discussion as a lot of peoples future depends upon it. Yes the people of NSW deserve the best EMS service that a government can provide.

EMS in NSW is the largest provider of EMS helicopters in Australia but it relies upon charities to provide its air services and equipment to provide the public with medical / rescue transport. Just another Trick has said Charities are cheap, but we all know that you get what you pay for and if we look further, one begins to ask “ARE THEY CHEAP” or are we being conditioned to think that they are. Imabell you are right QLD Government does inject a lot of money into its government fleet. However how much do you think NSW puts into each NGO? A lot of money MUCH, MUCH more than a million dollars to each operator and there are four NGO operators within NSW, with a lot less service capabilities than other states.

Service capability
Look at Careflight Sydney over the last four years how many days has their helicopter been unavailable for service?
How many days has their service been restricted because of

• No IFR capabilities
• No winch capability
• No Doctor
• No crew due to duty hours or sickness

How many patients suffered or died because of this unavailability? How many people donated money to the service and were moved by another service or were not moved because Careflight Sydney was OFF LINE? How many people were billed for transport even after they donated to Careflight?
Careflights Call sign should be OFF LINE 1

Why has no one ever taken Careflight to task over there inability to provide the services that they are paid to provide?. “Politicians, Politicians” “Yes Careflight is untouchable this contract is for show”. How can Careflight not get this EMS contract. They have worked for years to suck up to and manipulate every politician in power to assist them to progress their cause. Political manipulation is an art and the Helicopter NGO’s are masters at it, however Careflight is the master of them all. WHY has there never been an investigation into how Helicopter NGO’s continue to gain government funding without full and open disclusuer.

Surf LifeSaving is no stranger to Political Manipulation one can only look at the Carr Factor that has provided 12 million dollars to Lifesaver helicopter service to build a new base on the edge of a sensitive national park. Where was the review of retrieval / rescue services in relation to helicopter asset location. 12 Million dollars would have provided a lot of air time. WHY WAS THIS FUNDING PROVIDED with no thought to future service delivery or needs. Political Manipulation has for years been the thorn in the side of moving the EMS helicopter system of NSW into the future. Morris Iemma has distanced himself from the Carr mismanagement and aledged underhanded deals of the past. If this is to be a truely open tender then it needs to be monitored and scrutinised by the media and the public to ensure that the political deals do not restrict the tendering process.

Well Sea Breeze you wanted stimulation.
I have put my head up and expect to get hammered for it, but something needs to be done to ensure that this tender is a fair and open tender without the spin Doctors influence.