Whats happening with NSW EMS / Paramedics refuse to fly
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: 48 Deg South
Posts: 764
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Paramedics Refuse to Fly in OZ
Rescue chopper crisis deepens
TODAY marks three weeks since Wollongong's Westpac rescue helicopter has sat idle at its base, banned from performing any rescue missions.
Yesterday the helicopter wrangle worsened, when a Sydney helicopter which had been covering the region was grounded for routine mechanical inspections.
Two smaller helicopters - one without a winch, and unable to fly in bad weather - were flown into Sydney to cover the region temporarily.
Frustrated business and community leaders yesterday called for an end to the political bunfight which has engulfed the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service and exposed people to unnecessary risk.
The Illawarra Business Chamber's chief executive officer Tim Lewis yesterday sent a letter to NSW Health Minister Morris Iemma and politicians demanding the problem be sorted out immediately.
"What the hell is going on? How did we get to this state? Someone needs to be answering some questions regarding how well catered for the people of NSW are at the moment," he said.
"A community that contributes more than $1million per year in support of this vital service are left bewildered and increasingly angry."
The dispute came to a head on August 27 when paramedics seconded to the Sydney-based Westpac Life Saver 1 helicopter refused to fly on rescue missions.
The paramedics, employed by the NSW Ambulance Service, expressed concerns about equipment used to hold the air crewman in the helicopter during a rescue. As a result, the Sydney and Wollongong helicopters were grounded from rescue missions.
Yet the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) said there were no safety problems with the helicopters.
"There is no reason from an aviation safety perspective why these helicopters can't be up in the air performing rescue missions," CASA spokesman Peter Gibson said.
Westpac Rescue Helicopter Southern Region boss Peter Mangles has been stood down from active duty but no reason has been given.
Sources close to the helicopter dispute have said the paramedics resent the management style of the helicopter service.
The NRMA CareFlight helicopter, based in Sydney, had been covering rescue missions, however yesterday CareFlight director Ian Badham said that helicopter needed routine maintenance.
CareFlight's second helicopter had been brought to Sydney from Orange as a backup. It is a single-engine aircraft which does not have a winch, and cannot fly in bad weather.
A single-engine Westpac helicopter was also flown in from Newcastle.
South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris said millions of people across the state were being placed in a dangerous situation.
"If this isn't enough for the minister to finally step in and ground the head of the NSW Ambulance Medical Retrieval Unit until such time as an investigation takes place, I don't know what is," he said.
Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service acting chair Rod Oxley said the situation was frustrating because CASA had cleared the helicopter for flying, yet ambulance service members were still reluctant to fly.
"At the end of the day it is the ambulance service through the Medical Retrieval Unit that has to task the helicopters throughout the state, and they have got some concerns about some safety equipment," he said.
TODAY marks three weeks since Wollongong's Westpac rescue helicopter has sat idle at its base, banned from performing any rescue missions.
Yesterday the helicopter wrangle worsened, when a Sydney helicopter which had been covering the region was grounded for routine mechanical inspections.
Two smaller helicopters - one without a winch, and unable to fly in bad weather - were flown into Sydney to cover the region temporarily.
Frustrated business and community leaders yesterday called for an end to the political bunfight which has engulfed the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service and exposed people to unnecessary risk.
The Illawarra Business Chamber's chief executive officer Tim Lewis yesterday sent a letter to NSW Health Minister Morris Iemma and politicians demanding the problem be sorted out immediately.
"What the hell is going on? How did we get to this state? Someone needs to be answering some questions regarding how well catered for the people of NSW are at the moment," he said.
"A community that contributes more than $1million per year in support of this vital service are left bewildered and increasingly angry."
The dispute came to a head on August 27 when paramedics seconded to the Sydney-based Westpac Life Saver 1 helicopter refused to fly on rescue missions.
The paramedics, employed by the NSW Ambulance Service, expressed concerns about equipment used to hold the air crewman in the helicopter during a rescue. As a result, the Sydney and Wollongong helicopters were grounded from rescue missions.
Yet the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) said there were no safety problems with the helicopters.
"There is no reason from an aviation safety perspective why these helicopters can't be up in the air performing rescue missions," CASA spokesman Peter Gibson said.
Westpac Rescue Helicopter Southern Region boss Peter Mangles has been stood down from active duty but no reason has been given.
Sources close to the helicopter dispute have said the paramedics resent the management style of the helicopter service.
The NRMA CareFlight helicopter, based in Sydney, had been covering rescue missions, however yesterday CareFlight director Ian Badham said that helicopter needed routine maintenance.
CareFlight's second helicopter had been brought to Sydney from Orange as a backup. It is a single-engine aircraft which does not have a winch, and cannot fly in bad weather.
A single-engine Westpac helicopter was also flown in from Newcastle.
South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris said millions of people across the state were being placed in a dangerous situation.
"If this isn't enough for the minister to finally step in and ground the head of the NSW Ambulance Medical Retrieval Unit until such time as an investigation takes place, I don't know what is," he said.
Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service acting chair Rod Oxley said the situation was frustrating because CASA had cleared the helicopter for flying, yet ambulance service members were still reluctant to fly.
"At the end of the day it is the ambulance service through the Medical Retrieval Unit that has to task the helicopters throughout the state, and they have got some concerns about some safety equipment," he said.
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Gaithersburg, MD
Posts: 622
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Espirit de Corp...
Ya, and when it finally gets squared away there is going to be lots of love in the cabin of that aircraft. This is not exactly a team building experience between pilot(s) and crew... what were they thinking?
Gatvol
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: KLAS/TIST/FAJS/KFAI
Posts: 4,195
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From what little is posted it sounds simple.
1. Either address the issue to those who are concernds satisfaction, "expressed concerns about equipment used to hold the air crewman in the helicopter during a rescue"
or
2. Hire New Crew
1. Either address the issue to those who are concernds satisfaction, "expressed concerns about equipment used to hold the air crewman in the helicopter during a rescue"
or
2. Hire New Crew
Hey Bert....
Reckon that is an Air Log operation out there? Sounds like the same management style.
In order to fix a problem....you first have to admit a problem exists....then you must identify the problem...and then find a solution.
Complicated....I know!
Reckon that is an Air Log operation out there? Sounds like the same management style.
In order to fix a problem....you first have to admit a problem exists....then you must identify the problem...and then find a solution.
Complicated....I know!
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Australia
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Scrap the lot I say. It's time for NSW to have a single professional service that covers the people of the state with professionalisim, same aircraft type, standards, dosen,t employ a marketing crew of thousands for each & every"community" service. A single head office, single managment structre.
Para's will be comfortable as each aircraft they get in would be exactly the same layout, patter, standards etc. We have been conned for long enough that we are getting value for money from the existing arrangments.
It's time to end the "safety" concerns, i.e. the infighting between the various services for their slice of the pie and scrap the lot & start fresh.
Don't get me wrong, some of the existing services do a great job, but their not all at the same standard. which is why you get para's scratching their heads at some of the practices on some aircraft. The para's may not be hugely aircraft savvy, but if their relying on the crew upstairs to keep em safe while their on the wire, you can understand concerns.
Para's will be comfortable as each aircraft they get in would be exactly the same layout, patter, standards etc. We have been conned for long enough that we are getting value for money from the existing arrangments.
It's time to end the "safety" concerns, i.e. the infighting between the various services for their slice of the pie and scrap the lot & start fresh.
Don't get me wrong, some of the existing services do a great job, but their not all at the same standard. which is why you get para's scratching their heads at some of the practices on some aircraft. The para's may not be hugely aircraft savvy, but if their relying on the crew upstairs to keep em safe while their on the wire, you can understand concerns.
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Back of Bourke
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From what I hear (3rd hand), the issue seems weird. A crewie (NOT a medic) had an unsecured karabiner roll out of the harness, with the doors closed whilst in flight. On board Paramedic has had a dummy spit, and all ambo personnel are now refusing to fly any missions with the doors open.
Much more to this than meets the eye, but tragic that such a non event is being used to create an agenda issue, bringing the service into an unwanted media highlight
Much more to this than meets the eye, but tragic that such a non event is being used to create an agenda issue, bringing the service into an unwanted media highlight
Stormy
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Australia, and I love it!!
Posts: 299
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ned's article seems to have come from the Illawarra Mercury There are also articles on the ABC Regional Online site
here
and
here
Govt ignoring helicopter rescue issue: Opposition
The New South Wales Government has been urged to step in and solve the impasse over helicopter retrieval services in the Sydney basin and the Illawarra.
Opposition spokesman for the Illawarra, Peta Seaton, says the lifesaver rescue helicopters in Sydney and Wollongong, which have been out of action for rescue missions for three weeks, is a disaster waiting to happen.
Ms Seaton says the problems stem from an apparent dispute between various arms of the State Government over retrieval methods.
"It's an absolute tragedy to have two helicopters sitting idle when we need them in our region, when we need them in the Sydney basin," she said.
"Why is it that the Minister for Health is not making this a number one priority to fix this problem?
The New South Wales Government has been urged to step in and solve the impasse over helicopter retrieval services in the Sydney basin and the Illawarra.
Opposition spokesman for the Illawarra, Peta Seaton, says the lifesaver rescue helicopters in Sydney and Wollongong, which have been out of action for rescue missions for three weeks, is a disaster waiting to happen.
Ms Seaton says the problems stem from an apparent dispute between various arms of the State Government over retrieval methods.
"It's an absolute tragedy to have two helicopters sitting idle when we need them in our region, when we need them in the Sydney basin," she said.
"Why is it that the Minister for Health is not making this a number one priority to fix this problem?
and
No resolution to rescue chopper grounding
Thursday, 16 September 2004
Talks held in Wollongong have not succeeded in breaking the deadlock over the grounding of the Lifesaver Three Rescue Helicopter Service.
However, the helicopter service's acting chairman, Rod Oxley, says significant progress has been made and will consider an offer by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to facilitate further talks.
CASA spokesman Peter Gibson says the service is meeting all the relevant aviation safety requirements, but a breakdown in internal communication remains.
"One of the problems appears to be a breakdown in communication and understanding between the rescue helicopter service and the paramedics so CASA has offered to sit down with the paramedics, take them through what all the safety requirements are, reassure them that safety standards won't be being cut," he said.
Thursday, 16 September 2004
Talks held in Wollongong have not succeeded in breaking the deadlock over the grounding of the Lifesaver Three Rescue Helicopter Service.
However, the helicopter service's acting chairman, Rod Oxley, says significant progress has been made and will consider an offer by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to facilitate further talks.
CASA spokesman Peter Gibson says the service is meeting all the relevant aviation safety requirements, but a breakdown in internal communication remains.
"One of the problems appears to be a breakdown in communication and understanding between the rescue helicopter service and the paramedics so CASA has offered to sit down with the paramedics, take them through what all the safety requirements are, reassure them that safety standards won't be being cut," he said.
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: global citizen
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: professionalism.
If the paramedics aren't professional or capable enough to adapt to different a/c types, perhaps they should remain on the road driving their (presumably) standardised ambulances?
It seems Sarbe has let the cat out of the bag. The current scenario with one EMS operator may be a twofold operation - the ultimate agenda being the removal of all the current contract holders and installing the "one big not so sleepy giant" which seems to be favoured by some people (re: grenade).
Just a pity that the operator chosen as the sacraficial lamb has to suffer the indignity of having their reputation sullied in the somewhat dubious process at hand.
If the paramedics aren't professional or capable enough to adapt to different a/c types, perhaps they should remain on the road driving their (presumably) standardised ambulances?
It seems Sarbe has let the cat out of the bag. The current scenario with one EMS operator may be a twofold operation - the ultimate agenda being the removal of all the current contract holders and installing the "one big not so sleepy giant" which seems to be favoured by some people (re: grenade).
Just a pity that the operator chosen as the sacraficial lamb has to suffer the indignity of having their reputation sullied in the somewhat dubious process at hand.
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Cheltenham, UK
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just heard that Careflight and Westpac Sydney/Woollongong have all been grounded after a CASA audit found they were using uncertified and expired SAR gear.
Big call by CASA if it's true! Anyone in Sydney know whats going on?
yoobeedo..
SouthCare\'s (or Southpark
) contract was due at this time anyway, so it\'s not related to the review in NSW.
Cheers..
Big call by CASA if it's true! Anyone in Sydney know whats going on?
yoobeedo..
SouthCare\'s (or Southpark
) contract was due at this time anyway, so it\'s not related to the review in NSW. Cheers..
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: South of PNG
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Are westpacs back flying yet. If people are being denied a rescue helicopter because of grounded ambos, it would want to be a very serious industrial issue, not just a personality driven power trip.
ACT is a very small territory. Its safe to assume Southcare does the majority of its flying in NSW. Just heard that prior to this tender, the hummingbirds were asked to extend to fit in with the ACT/NSW agreement.
ACT is a very small territory. Its safe to assume Southcare does the majority of its flying in NSW. Just heard that prior to this tender, the hummingbirds were asked to extend to fit in with the ACT/NSW agreement.