Ambulance tracking first in accountability

Queenslanders can now see exactly how many ambulances are available in their region and what their workload is, with a simple click of a computer mouse.

Health Minister Lawrence Springborg said in an Australian first, the Queensland Ambulance Service was using social media to release real time tracking of the fleet of more than a thousand vehicles.

“Government should be open and accountable, and now for the first time anyone can see exactly how many ambulances are available at a given time across the state,” Mr Springborg said.

“Families want to know that if they have an emergency, an ambulance will be available and this is now possible.

“If there is pressure on the ambulance service, that information will also be freely available.

“We promised at the election to restore accountability and we also promised to revitalise frontline services.

“This announcement will continue the progress we have already made to rebuild the health system, left in a mess by Labor.”

The tracking tool is now up and running on the QAS website via facebook and twitter, and is directly linked to the Emergency Services Computer Aided Dispatch system.

QAS Commissioner Russell Bowles said it should end the fallacy on ambulance availability.

“One of the biggest misconceptions is that when there are ambulances dropping patients at a hospital, there are none available to respond to other emergencies,” Mr Bowles said.

“Use of the QAS social media stream has more than doubled in the past six months. We can use this tool to dispel some of the myths.”

Mr Springborg said the QAS was streets ahead in ambulance services in Australia. 

“The QAS is embracing technology and social media for the benefit of Queenslanders and better workforce management,” he said.

“It shows the Newman Government has a strong plan that is creating a brighter, healthier future for Queensland families.”

The link is available at https://ambulance.qld.gov.au/iroam.html. Twitter @QldAmbulance.

[ENDS] 25 August 2014         Media contact: Cathy Border 0412 722702