CareFlight launches new Brisbane chapter

Queensland’s lifesaving RACQ CareFlight Rescue has marked the start of a new chapter in the state’s south, with Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Cameron Dick today launching a new base and aircraft for the lifesaving service at Brisbane Airport.

The new community base - Careflight’s first in the state’s capital - will help the service deliver specialist medical care from Brisbane to patients throughout southern, south west and south east Queensland.

Mr Dick said the new base would benefit many Queenslanders in need, wherever sickness strikes.

“This base is a practical demonstration of our commitment to medical care for communities, wherever they may live,” he said.

“Earlier this year, we committed to a $56 million extension of funding for this wonderful service to provide experienced CareFlight doctors to serve on board the state’s emergency aircraft fleet for another three years.

“This is part of our proactive approach to meeting changing demands in the delivery of air medical services within the state network, and ensuring that CareFlight can continue providing access to high-quality medical facilities for those in need in all parts of our state.”

CareFlight Chairman Rob Borbidge AO said most missions out of the new base would involve inter-hospital transfers requiring highly-skilled nurses.

Five emergency and intensive care nurses will join the crews, which comprise a pilot, co-pilot and CareFlight doctor.

“These nurses have a minimum of five years’ experience and a post graduate degree, so we are very excited to have health care professionals with these skills on board our aircraft,” he said.

The base will act as a central hub for the service as well as linking with existing rescue bases in Maroochydore, Bundaberg, Toowoomba and Bilinga on the Gold Coast.

More than 110 missions have already been completed out of the base since it began operating in July, adding to the 40,000 sick or injured Australians CareFlight has served in its three decades of operation.

Mr Dick also unveiled the new medically-configured AgustaWestland 139 helicopter, which the crews will shift to using later this year.

The helicopter will be fitted out with state-of-the-art clinical equipment funded by Queensland Health, which Mr Dick said backed a priority of the Palaszczuk Government – delivering the best patient care through significant investment in frontline services and patient safety.

The AW139 is CareFlight’s first new aircraft in 30 years and it is larger and faster than the Bell412 helicopters currently used and tailor-made for the aeromedical requirements of CareFlight’s critical care crews.

“It can comfortably transfer two stretchered and four seated patients all under the care of a doctor and intensive care flight nurse, so we are incredibly excited about the intensive care capabilities this aircraft and our crews can deliver to much of Queensland,” said Paul Forcier, CareFlight Chief Rotary Pilot.

The RACQ CareFlight Rescue helicopter and two of CareFlight’s Air Ambulance fleet will share the new hangar at the airport, reducing costs, response times and centralising medical resources, which Mr Borbidge said meant the best use of funding from the State Government.

The Brisbane Base helicopter will also fly neo-natal missions with specialist paediatric teams on board.

ENDS

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