Extra funding for LifeFlight Mount Isa service

The Palaszczuk Government has committed $800,000 to keep the LifeFlight helicopter flying to ensure the safety of residents and visitors to the north-west.

Minister for Emergency Services Mark Ryan today announced this additional funding to LifeFlight to support this vital service.

“The LifeFlight operations in Mount Isa ensure the safety of the people in this region,” Minister Ryan said.

“LifeFlight provides a range of helicopter rescue and aero-medical retrieval services to the people in Mount Isa and surrounding areas, ensuring the community has access to urgent aeromedical care when they need it.

“This funding is on top of the $1.2 million already provided by the Palaszczuk Government in 2015-16 to support the operations of LifeFlight’s Mount Isa base until February 2017.

“The additional funding of $800,000 to the service means the community can be assured that LifeFlight will be on hand to support them in their hour of need.”

LifeFlight has successfully delivered critical aero-medical services to communities throughout Queensland for over 35 years, flying more than 45,000 lifesaving missions.

The Mount Isa-based LifeFlight crew has flown 37 missions since taking over the service on July 1, 2015, which includes a range of critical care airlifts including patient injuries resulting from horse falls, snake bites, motor vehicle accidents, cardiac conditions and serious abdominal injuries.

LifeFlight CEO, Ashley van de Velde welcomed the funding boost to the Mount Isa operations.  

“LifeFlight Mount Isa services a population across a vast and remote landscape and is a vital lifesaving lifeline which ensures people in this remote region have access to critical care in their hour of need,” Mr van de Velde said.

“The community has always supported LifeFlight and we are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to continue to provide our services to them and build on this solid relationship”.

LifeFlight last year began working more collaboratively with the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Mount Isa through the establishment of a new Aeromedical Joint Operations Oversight Committee, allowing more coordinated use of available aeromedical assets for patient emergencies.

LifeFlight Committee Chair Tony McGrady also welcomed the additional funding which would ensure the short term viability of the local LifeFlight Service.

“Services like LifeFlight are such a vital and lifesaving aspect of living in North West Queensland and it is reassuring for all residents of the region to have ongoing support from the Queensland Government to ensure that the service stays in the air,” Mr McGrady said.

LifeFlight provides this service with the support of the Public Safety Business Agency.

ENDS

Media contacts

Minister Contact: Michelle Connolly 0478 325 738

LifeFlight: Ian Eckersley, Communications and Public Relations Manager 0432 754 897