Low acuity ambulance program launches in Ipswich

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Cameron Dick today launched a new low acuity ambulance program in Ipswich to treat non-urgent cases and optimise the use of ambulance resources to best serve the community.

“This is just another example of the Palaszczuk Government rebuilding frontline services,” the Minister said.

“This $740,000 investment will provide more than 150 additional hours of ambulance cover for the Ipswich community every week.

“This model has already been successfully implemented in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Townsville and Cairns and will continue to be rolled out across the state.

“The Queensland Ambulance Service Low Acuity Response Units (LARU) respond to non-urgent cases where patients may not need to go to hospital. This frees up acute ambulances to respond to more urgent cases.

“The types of conditions of lower acuity patients are varied, and include chronic illnesses needing medical assessment, minor medical problems, superficial burns, lacerations, and minor musculoskeletal and fall-related injuries.”

Member for Ipswich Jennifer Howard welcomed the additional services.

“Two new generation LARU vehicles – the first of their kind in Queensland - will be servicing the Ipswich community, staffed by paramedics who have received enhanced training in patient assessment and diagnosis,” Ms Howard said.

“This extra resourcing will make a big difference to the delivery of health services in our community.”

Member for Ipswich West Jim Madden said the new response unit would ensure patients who do not need to be in the emergency department are seen by a more appropriate health care provider.

“LARU paramedics are supported by applications and directories available on each officer’s iPad to ensure patients are directed to the most appropriate health care provider.

“We know that some patients who do not need critical interventions may be suitable for treatment by community-based services, such as GPs or community health centres,” Mr Madden said.

Queensland Ambulance Service Commissioner Russell Bowles said more than 60,000 requests for emergency ambulance assistance were received for West Moreton last financial year.

“In the 12 months to January 2017, West Moreton LASN experienced a 9.48 per cent increase in overall response demand,” Commissioner Bowles said.

“LARU enables us to better allocate ambulance resources, while maintaining high levels of patient safety and care.”

Mr Dick said that more than five full time LARU officer positions were created in West Moreton as part of enhancement positions allocated in the 2016-17 State Budget.

This is in addition to the more than eight new paramedics and 24 new vehicles funded in the West Moreton region in the Palaszczuk Government’s first two budgets.

“Our Government is committed to providing high-quality emergency health care to Queenslanders, and getting more health workers on the ground,” he said.

ENDS

Media contact:

Laura Gowdie 0413 492 117