NSW Rescue Helicopter review
 

Hi all,
long time veiwer, first time poster.
Just a question to all the NSW EMS Helicopter providers. Now that we've had the statewide Rescue Helicopter review out for a week, what does everybody think of it? 1.Is it a document written by the Doctors for the Drs (& had a pommy company stamp the front cover) OR 2. It's the best "world standard" practice and will evolve to meet future growing demand in both Meto and regional NSW?
S.A.

http://www.ambulance.nsw.gov.au/area...tary_wing.html

here it is, hope it links.

Sounds like the little red humming bird has gotten into the Poms ear and whipt the carpet out from beneath the bad man and the clubbies. The little bird will have little trouble providing the required helicopters at a fraction of the rate that the current operators can.
Looks like the end of the EMS turmoil in Syd at last.

Seagull Hunted should seek treatment for substance abuse. The Review overwhelmingly endorses the status quo and particularly
the Careflight model .

If lloyds are doing only half of whats claimed by some in this forum, I'M BUYING SHARES.:O

I’ll seek help for my substance abuse. You better look for some help finding another job. You have six months up your sleeve. Good Luck!!

What is the Careflight model??
Is there anything stopping other operators using it??
Surely an operator can fit out a helicopter any way they wish and go for any contract!

The "CareFlight Model " does not refer to a particular helicopter
variant but to an organizational system.The following is from the
careflight.org web page :

Since 1986 CareFlight has provided the people of NSW with one of the world's most advanced and medically proficient rapid-response emergency helicopter and medical retrieval services.

NRMA CareFlight operates four integrated services:

A state-wide emergency service with the twin-engine Bk117 Helicopter equipped with rescue hoist, search light, based at Westmead.
A Central West regional service with a Agusta A119 Koala, based in Orange.
CareFlight's own trauma and medical retrieval doctors providing a State-Wide service from Sydney.
An international medical retrieval and repatriaton service, using CareFlight's own medical team.
Unlike any other air medical service in Australia, only CareFlight employs its own specialist doctors and holds teaching accreditation with three medical colleges covering the critical care fields of Anaesthetics, Emergency Medicine and Intensive Care.

CareFlight doctors are trained in critical care medicine to deliver intensive care to patients of all ages, wherever they may be located within NSW.

CareFlight medical teams are able to respond by helicopter, road ambulance and fixed wing air ambulance aircraft, depending on the circumstances. Over 10,000 patients have been treated and transported over the past 16 years.
While CareFlight provides its services without cost to all patients, the service costs over $8.5 million annually to staff, equip and operate around the clock.

At least two CareFlight medical teams are on rostered duty, 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
NRMA CareFlight can be called out by NSW Ambulance Service and also by Police, Fire, Australian Search and Rescue, other emergency services and hospitals.

CareFlight is a not-for-profit organisation, a registered charity and is proud to be rated as a Public Benevolent Institution.

Some of the reccommendations in summary:
Support for the current organisations. Recognition of value of current expertise.
Community based organisations valued.
Preferred model is Doctor/SCAT Paramedic combination on all NSW Helos.
Contract renewals delayed until July 2005 to digest review implications.
Prefer 1 operator to cover the Sydney Basin aircraft, Orange, and Wollongong.
Greater Sydney region (the four mentioned above) to have compatible aircraft/systems so as to be interchangeable.
Aircraft medical equipment/systems move toward interchangeability.
1 back up aircraft required for the four operations mentioned above.
New operations considered for Wagga Wagga, and Coffs Harbour.
Incorporation of 10 year contract term.
NVG Compatible cockpits required by 2008.

Dose adopting the Careflight model mean employing doctor?

The Review is not a final assessment or “tender requirement”. It is an initial assessment of the recommendations of an external (UK) consultant , who has stated its idealised model of HEMS for NSW Ambulance Service operations . The NSW Department of Health and the Ambulance Service is now seeking feedback from
local operators on the viability of these recommendations . This is the reason for the
(initial ?) 6 month extension of the present contracts .
As anybody who has had experience of similar contract recommendations would know , idealised recommendations tend to be severely modified when their often alarming costs are understood by the prospective client .

New Rescue Helicopter for NSW
 

I see that CHChave taken up residence in Albion Park with there Bell 412 VH-NSP.
There a few days and done 2 jobs already

Anybody know if they are looking for crew??

Yes, two jobs for Rescue 25.
Loads of training flights and a large patch of oil on the ground.
Someone please call the EPA!

This has gone quiet for a while, how are CHC doing? Anybody know?????

Quietly achieving like CHC Australia normally do.

They were rather busy during the beginning of the tour with call outs, so I believe it is looking well for the Illawarra's newest organisation.
Not too much oil laying around but there were skid welts in the dust cover infront of Histerical Aircraft Restoration's hangar..... heavy Aircraft and a thin cover!
:ok: