Gladstone Ambulance Station refurbishment officially open

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services Cameron Dick met paramedics, a former patient and a young local hero as he officially opened the refurbished Gladstone Ambulance Station.

Mr Dick said the $1.8 million project of improvements to the station had delivered a more modern facility that would better suit the needs of paramedics.

“The station, which was originally built in 1967, has had a much-needed refurbishment and redesign to bring it up-to-date with the needs of today’s paramedics,” he said.

“Gladstone Ambulance Station is the second largest station in Central Queensland and services communities from Mount Larcom to Calliope and Boyne Island.

“The new works involved a complete internal refurbishment and redesign to deliver safer and more functional work areas, including a dedicated training room, study area, improved storage, patient care supplies, a new kitchen and day room facilities. There is also extra roofing protection for ambulances and a new vehicle wash bay.”

Mr Dick also took the opportunity to present a Certificate of Appreciation to 10-year-old Tiara Johnson, whose eagle eyes and quick thinking helped save local man Frank Moore’s life after he suffered a cardiac arrest in front of his home in March.

“Tiara, her mum Tia and sister Shira were on their way to school that day when Tiara noticed something out of the ordinary on the side of the road. It was Frank lying on the ground after he’d had a cardiac arrest,” he said.

“After Tiara raised the alarm, mum quickly turned the car around and they checked on Frank’s condition. When he didn’t respond, the call to Triple Zero (000) was quickly made. Once on scene the paramedics conducted life-saving CPR and defibrillation for 20 minutes before they were able to revive him and get him quickly to hospital.

“It was my great pleasure today to meet the Johnson family, Frank and all of the paramedics who attended on that dramatic day. This is just another example of the high quality of emergency pre-hospital care that our ambulance service provides to the Central Queensland community day in, day out.

“Last financial year, Gladstone paramedics attended more than 6,100 incidents and already this financial year they have responded to more than 5,600 calls for assistance.

“The government is committed to supporting them as they continue their essential life-saving work in the community and I am very proud to have had the opportunity to officially open the new and improved Gladstone Ambulance Station.”

ENDS 

Media contact:        Suellen Hinde          3035 6117 / 0437642645