QLD AMBULANCES TO GET NEW GPS SYSTEMS
Published Sunday, 15 February, 2009 at 09:00 AM
Minister for Emergency Services
The Honourable Neil Roberts
All emergency ambulance vehicles in the state will soon have an in-vehicle navigation unit, Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts announced today.
Mr Roberts said the Bligh Government would spend almost $1 million to roll-out up to 800 devices from July.
“The Queensland Ambulance Services’ (QAS) fleet of around 100 single response vehicles for our Intensive Care Paramedics across the state are already equipped with navigation units,” Mr Roberts said.
“However this funding will see the technology extended to every operational ambulance vehicle in the fleet.
“This will ensure front-line paramedics have access to the latest satellite navigation technology to respond to life threatening incidents.
“That’s great news for both our dedicated ambulance officers and the community.”
Mr Roberts said satellite navigation technology was not new to the ambulance system.
He said a feature of the department’s computer-aided dispatch system was automated vehicle location technology, which monitored the location of ambulances enabling the more effective deployment of resources to emergencies in South-East Queensland.
“This technology not only assists in locating ambulance vehicles in relation to emergencies but it also enhances the safety and security of our ambulances as they can be tracked,” he said.
Mr Roberts said the installation of the navigation units would help the QAS as it strives to further enhance its response times, which are already among the best in Australia.
State Parliament was told this week that the QAS had the fastest response times in the country.
Queensland out performed all other states by responding to 50% of all life threatening Triple Zero calls within 8.3 minutes.
That’s more than a minute better than the national average of 9.55 minutes and 1.5 minutes better than New South Wales’ time of 9.9 minutes.
In 90% of Code One cases, a QAS ambulance was on scene within 16.7 minutes, well below the national average of 18.75 minutes and better than Victoria at 19 minutes, New South Wales at 19.9 minutes, Tasmania at 22.4 minutes and the Northern Territory 23.5 minutes.
Mr Roberts said the investment in navigation devices was yet another example of the government’s focus on front-line service delivery.
“Last year the QAS responded to more than 860,000 calls for help from Queenslanders, an average of one every 35 seconds,” Mr Roberts said.
“I am determined to ensure our ambulance officers get the equipment they need to their vital work.
“I regularly visit ambulance stations across the state and speak to paramedics and local ambulance committees who want navigation technology put into ambulances.
“The Bligh Government has listened and I am confident that having in-vehicle navigation in our ambulances will be a helpful tool when responding to emergencies.”
Media contact: Scott Chandler on 0488 096 204
Mr Roberts said the Bligh Government would spend almost $1 million to roll-out up to 800 devices from July.
“The Queensland Ambulance Services’ (QAS) fleet of around 100 single response vehicles for our Intensive Care Paramedics across the state are already equipped with navigation units,” Mr Roberts said.
“However this funding will see the technology extended to every operational ambulance vehicle in the fleet.
“This will ensure front-line paramedics have access to the latest satellite navigation technology to respond to life threatening incidents.
“That’s great news for both our dedicated ambulance officers and the community.”
Mr Roberts said satellite navigation technology was not new to the ambulance system.
He said a feature of the department’s computer-aided dispatch system was automated vehicle location technology, which monitored the location of ambulances enabling the more effective deployment of resources to emergencies in South-East Queensland.
“This technology not only assists in locating ambulance vehicles in relation to emergencies but it also enhances the safety and security of our ambulances as they can be tracked,” he said.
Mr Roberts said the installation of the navigation units would help the QAS as it strives to further enhance its response times, which are already among the best in Australia.
State Parliament was told this week that the QAS had the fastest response times in the country.
Queensland out performed all other states by responding to 50% of all life threatening Triple Zero calls within 8.3 minutes.
That’s more than a minute better than the national average of 9.55 minutes and 1.5 minutes better than New South Wales’ time of 9.9 minutes.
In 90% of Code One cases, a QAS ambulance was on scene within 16.7 minutes, well below the national average of 18.75 minutes and better than Victoria at 19 minutes, New South Wales at 19.9 minutes, Tasmania at 22.4 minutes and the Northern Territory 23.5 minutes.
Mr Roberts said the investment in navigation devices was yet another example of the government’s focus on front-line service delivery.
“Last year the QAS responded to more than 860,000 calls for help from Queenslanders, an average of one every 35 seconds,” Mr Roberts said.
“I am determined to ensure our ambulance officers get the equipment they need to their vital work.
“I regularly visit ambulance stations across the state and speak to paramedics and local ambulance committees who want navigation technology put into ambulances.
“The Bligh Government has listened and I am confident that having in-vehicle navigation in our ambulances will be a helpful tool when responding to emergencies.”
Media contact: Scott Chandler on 0488 096 204