Serious incident at Innamincka Today..SA RFDS refuse help

Is this a silly reply or what John.

The RFDS fly all around Australia in their dedicated medical plane and nothing whaat so ever to do with cargo planes

Note the smiley; it was just a vision of the victim in the back of the ute being flown out in said ute. On another topic, if you're not plugging your webpage, why mention it at all?

Yep...better to wait for the full story and reasons given rather than assume.

Yeah agree with replies .
Shame there's NO links to so-called story...
Edit.. also think it's a bit of a shame to rag on the rfds without knowing /sharing full details

for these 3 replies, you will not find any media links, they are only now just being informed by me and there needs to be serious questions asked with the management of the RFDS team in Adelaide.

The service at Innamincka up to around 4 years ago was administered and run by the RFDS from Broken Hill in NSW. I have been all morning on the phone speaking with locals and station people around Innamincka and to put it bluntly, they have had a guts full of the RFDS since Adelaide took control.

The simple pacts are that if 3 of the volunteers were not Paramedics from Adelaide, the man would have died, and then to run salt into the situation, RFDS in Adelaide refused the paramedics or the RFDS crew that flew in from Broken Hill to use the clinic and ambulance.

I contacted the RFDS in Adelaide first thing this morning....usual speal, were not aware of the situation and will get back to me in a couple of hours...nearly 5 hours later and no reply.

It is a situation that has been happening for a number of year and now I am the voice for the people of Innamincka and not going to let this issue just die out, I will continue to pursue this until I get an answer for all my Innamincka friends.


regards

Stephen

Agree and when speaking with one of my Innamincka contacts this morning, said there are always 2 sides to every story.

The cold hearted facts are why did RFDS Adelaide deny access to the clinic and ambulance to both the 3 paramedics and the RFDS crew that flew in from Adelaide, then put the patient in the back of a ute on a mattress, drive them to the waiting RFDS plane, when the unused ambulance was sitting idle at the clinic.

As one person said to me from Innamincka this morning, the 3 paramedics are looking for bloods and expect to see heads on platters...

Regards

Stephen

"...the 3 paramedics are looking for bloods and expect to see heads on platters..."

Conflicts a bit with the statement posted on Facebook by one of those paramedics... It concludes with some wise advice.

"David Jaensch
FYI update.
I had a very positive and fruitful conversation with Tony Vaughan today. He is working hard now to rectify some systems and has clarified some issues which were not clear.
Bottom line is, there will be some very positive outcomes for the Innaminka community from this event. The important thing now though, is for all involved to work together in a productive and cooperative manner toward resolution of the issues. That will not be achieved with a combative approach. We all want this to work out well (as it has for the patient). My hope is that the major players in the community can sit down together and seek to understand each other's perspectives while moving forward to a positive future."

You should get comments in full correct context

This was not David’s first reply as you are well aware and that quote was the day after he first commented and after he had spoken with Tony

Happens in remote communities also. Blackfellas stage an act...ambulance called...off to hospital..walk out of ambulance and to the local shop. Saw it happen several times....GRRRR

RFDS has patient transport vehicles, maybe what you are seeing, very hard to differentiate at times.

John.
It is great to give everyone the benefit of doubt, but of course they are patient transport. However, there is no RFDS required in Central Victoria! Why would we see patients being transported by RFDS in Central Vic when we have AMBULANCE VICTORIA? Anyone requiring medical assistance in remote areas are FAR AWAY from Central Vic to be in a local RFDS Ambulance, and likely not treated in Melbourne hospitals to be needing Ambulance through Central Vic toAdelaide or Sydney. There are Highways which lead to those centres, and they aren't through Central VIC either. If treated in Melbourne, maybe it happens, but where would people be taken by RFDS Ambulance?

RMD, there are a multitude of patient transport companies in Victoria, RFDS being one of them, Ambulance Victoria has emergency and non emergency patient transport and MICA ambulances. Why RFDS would have a warehouse in Bendigo, no idea, it may not be a warehouse, it maybe a maintenance workshop, who knows? A Google search shows this information about RFDS in Bendigo. RFDS Bendigo

What a lot of shouting...calm down; take some chill pills...

It Hasn't started yet , Lol.



Cheers Axle.

I can't hear any shouting maybe my volume button is broken.
I thought the la di da thing these days was a word printed in all capitals means shouting. Personally I don't follow that garbage it makes people anal then they start on punctuation to top it off.
Plus sometimes a phone does what it wants to with some words or spelling so be it.

Yes, I agree - punctuation really helps comprehension. I like to see a comma or two myself, not that they're always put in their correct place...

Facts were that if the volunteer paramedics were not there, the man would have died.

Why were the paramedics and the RFDS crew that flew in from Broken Hill refused access to the clinic and ambulance.

The paramedics as you would expect are fuming and are calling for head to roll in Adelaide.

I have since been in contact with 2 local politicians who are going to raise this serious issue in parliament and the ABC going to do a story on it.

Locals have told me the clinic ran fine went under the control of the RFDS in Broken Hill NSW, but in what I believe a power struggle for more governmen funds took control from NSW around 4 years ago.

Anyone that speaks with station people in the area once had the greatest respect for the RFDS, but not anymore..


Cheers

Stephen

PETER.
Why should Stephen , "shut it"? If political decisions and people wanting power over others, or over situations, takes Precedence over a MEDICAL EMERGENCY care, everyone should know, so responsible people can make decisions to have the Service operate as it should, without this sort of occurrence! If you wait until everyone, has their say, there will be plenty of bandaids swept under the carpet and the truth may not be known to benefit anyone, except the power brokers!

Rmd . I think it would have been prudent to get all full details and then make a statement for the forum rather than going off half-cocked with hearsay

Peter a great friend on mine is actually up at Innamincka with the friends group doing repairs from the floods.

Full facts….male in his 80 suffered massive heart attack, who was there volunteering.

3 of the volunteers happened to be paramedics from Adelaide and know their stuff.

They were in contact with RFDS in Adelaide, but denied access to the clinic and ambulance.

RFDS port Augusta plane out on another job so Broken Hill called in……this where a total f…up happened and they were also denied access to the clinic and ambulance.

Have received a phone call this afternoon from the RFDS in Adelaide……..they admin that they f….up with Broken Hill RFDS, but told it is RFDS protocol that if you are not employed by the RFDS in Adelaide, you are not allowed to use any RFDS gear…even if you were a doctor.

I kept on trying to say 2 words but they did not like that….common sense and he kept on saying RFDS Protocol.

They were more concerned that medication could have been stolen….what a total lot of cros shite…..

Protocol alright gone bloody made, then trying to bring it on that if there was an accident and an ambulance there that you can not drive it because of yes…protocol…..

The medical system is ruled by protocol.
The paramedics would know all about that !

Hi Nick

Protocol is just total bull shit and where is good old common sense?

Thank goodness that the 3 paramedics were able to save the poor chaps life……but what would have been the outcome if the person died and it was proven that equipment inside the clinic could have saved the man’s life?

I bet the RFDS would have been crucified by a coroner for denying medical access to 3 highly qualified people.

At least the RFDS admitted that they made blunders and their “protocol “ is being amended so this type of thing does not happen again.

Next thought, how many of these total f..ups has the RFDS done in the past and the incident never made public?


Cheers

Hi Peter

I know you told me to “ I respectfully suggest that you shut it until those who were there, from both sides, have their say.”

Would you like to hear the updated story?

Not looking very good for the big knobs in Adelaide and heads should roll.

Stephen, I think we would all be interested in hearing an OFFICIAL update link etc ...update but I think we are ALLOVER !! anything more HEARSAY B.S .

Not Hearsay BS as you say, direct communications between myself and the RFDS in Adelaide, including Tony Vaughan CEO RFDS Adelaide and one of the actual paramedics.

It seems there many here that don’t like what I try to share, so no skin off my nose.

It's not what you share that is the problem; it's how you share.

Grandstanders are not usually all that helpful...

It's all on the ABC news service now and that is where the whole thing is much better outlined.

Just saying.

Just wondering Stephen are you a paramedic or higher up in the system or a police officer etc to be making all the calls and looking for answers or are you in charge of investigating this issue from the RFDS.
Only asking because you seem to be focused on it and putting a lot of time into getting to the route cause.

John bass : well said !

Abc news rfds review

John and Batts.

Yes it was only put up on the ABC yesterday, purely for the facts that I contacted 2 of my ABC journalists friends and how I gave all the details to, Narrelle then she did a radio story on Friday afternoon and then a media story.

Facts are that if I never contacted the ABC the story would never had been made public and another serious situation swept under the carpet and away from public ears.

Batts, I am neither of the above, I just have many contacts from when I was working and I am now retired.

As stated Tony Vaughn CEO commented on my site, claimed that I was giving “Miss Information” and tried to make me look silly….which completely backfired and has been made a total fool.

One of the 3 paramedics then made a comment which outlined the very serious situation and made Tony eat humble pie. As the 2 other paramedics are employed by the Government, they are not able to comment public……government policy.

The 3 paramedics were all from Adelaide, 2 still employed as highly qualified paramedics in the ambulance service and the third that is now employed privately were administrating serious lifesaving aid for 6 hours on the man.

During this time the paramedics contacted South Australian ambos in Adelaide to tell them the situation and when dealing with the RFDS Port Augusta advised the operator they were all qualified paramedics and refused to allow them to use the clinic to triage the patient.

From the time they contacted the RFDS it took 5 hours to get the RFDS in from Broken Hill and from a complete blunder at communications in Port Augusta, they were also denied access to the clinic and ambulance.

The client was initially taken to the hotel, but later taken to a bed in the hotel because I’f the situation. The paramedic on my site confirmed the following.

The public defib had not been Tag and Tested since 2018…..7 years out of date.

The pads on the defib were expired and out of date……

Drugs inside the RFDS emergency box were out of date……

One of the sprays they use during cardiac arrest were out of date and could not be used…..

When David the paramedic made these public comments and more, Tony was totally in denial and wanted to know David’s qualifications, all given the the RFDS operator who could have confirmed if they took the time.

Tony has now admitted publicly on my site that yes there were serious blunders at the time that could have cost the man’s life and like I have said, if the coroner was involved, he would have been far more critical of how Adelaide handled and tried to cover up the facts.

Other questions asked and still not answered…

There were over 20 volunteers coming to innamincka to work, between the ages of 70 and 85 some with health issues and this was conveyed to the RFDS weeks in advance by National Parks people at Innamincka, yet they for some reason took the 2 RFDS paramedic away from innamincka…why? Leaving the base unmanned for 2 weeks.

So for all the members here that said I was only putting up third hand information, you are members that are ignoring the facts that I put up, RFDS tried to deny and now they are the ones in recovers mode…not me…….

So not time members here like Peter tell me to shut up, they are the ones that should shut up, as like I have said on my site, it was started to get first hand, accurate and reliable information from my members who are out there in the Outback.

I'm just glad I'm still a couple years away from joining this grumpy old farts club !

It is NOT the RFDS's responsibility to ensure that the Public Defib, the RFDS medical box at the Pub is in operational condition.

It is the holders of such items to ensure that they are in serviceable condition.

Everyone is totally sick of hearing about "Your" site Stephen, so why not just leave the "Grandstanding" to "Your" site and stop posting on here.

" It is NOT the RFDS's responsibility to ensure that the Public Defib, the RFDS medical box at the Pub is in operational condition.

It is the holders of such items to ensure that they are in serviceable condition.

Everyone is totally sick of hearing about "Your" site Stephen, so why not just leave the "Grandstanding" to "Your" site and stop posting on here. "


And the GOF club just keeps on keeping on !

Looks like someone got out the wrong side of the bed this morning, not sure what I have said to get up under your skin.

I know that you think you are a so called expert on our recent Outback Floods, just wondering if you have come across any details of photos of the new barge that is going to take the place of the old ferry?

I bet the answer is a straight out No then

Now Overall , Ain't That the truth! Its been building for a long time.

Thanks Mindful Voyager.

Cheers Axle.

Once again it wasn't what was said it was how it was said.
There has been numerous threads over the years where the poster could save themselves significant grief if they just sat down, had a coffee/tea/beer/wine/water (pick your poison) before they posted. Then actually read their post along with a chill pill before hitting the submit button.
In other words, the point may be valid but using a sledgehammer to add punctuation rarely improves the message.

We all get excited about different things but emotion and nuance rarely come across as intended on the internet.

May the calm be with you.......

.
Stephen made five expressions of fact of known events then one expression of "This report needs to be heard Australia wide and heads must roll from the RFDS in Adelaide."

If this last expression was to be a benchmark of constraint on this forum then it would be a much quieter place than it has been. Strong accusations and reprimands here are frequent and unwarranted. I commend your expression of calmness.

Allan : speaking for my self here , yes I may have jumped on his statement but no more than he did the rfds . I personally would like to give them the respect they deserve in light of everything that has been said and until I see a official statement .
I am yet to see anything he said is actual fact .

.
Well Nick, I do know Stephen pretty well and I can say that he has cultivated a very large number of contacts across the land and in particular in the remote areas of Australia. From these contacts he frequently receives information that most others do not. I believe that it was yourself that posted the ABC News report on this event which I expect had been verified by the ABC reporters. Did that not present to you as "actual fact"?
You may wait for some time to see an "official statement" from the RFDS and when you do it will almost certainly be a very carefully constructed and sanitised response composed by a PR staff member. Are you any more likely to accept that than Stephen's accounts?
If you, and others, who leapt to challenge Stephen's post could not accept his expressions then it was only necessary to hold back from challenging him and allow time to reveal the fidelity of his attestation. Stephen had the benefit of reports…… you had nothing.

Allan : I should amend my last part paragraph to say to be confirmed factual. It quite well could be true but it just sounded a bit sketchy if they were denied access ¿ more like a full Inventory?? And whilst that being handballs around different group departments for years , but your probably right we may never hear the full truth.

Moving on...
Now what was that the you said ...ABC . Actual fact .. thats a JOKE right :))) haha

Cheers for your support Allan, greatly appreciated.

As for those waiting for an official response from the RFDS, please do not hold your breath as they will not and now in survival mode for the major and serious blunders that their staff did and as I have said the ceo of the RFDS posted and basically said I was giving Miss information to try and discredit me, then it completely backfired he is now the one with egg on his face and one of the paramedics told Tony the CEO the full facts that were are more serious than I reported

Again here like I have said many times, I am fully supportive of the nurses, doctors, pilots and crew that are the faces on the ground, but do not respect the officials that tried to deny the situation, tried to discourage what I said and now the world and rest of Australia have my 2 ABC journalists in Port Pirie who personally followed up what i personally told them

Alan. The comment "this event which I expect had been verified by the ABC reporters" does little to
enhance your argument. :)
Please note smiley.
Dave.

.
Not sure what you mean David, smiley notwithstanding.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-01/rfds-internal-review-after-outback-medical-clinic-emergency/105721166

Hi old mate.

The paramedics were on the phone directly with the RFDS and it is the RFDS who call in Moomba when they feel they need help..another case of another RFDS stuff up

If they had called Santos directly, and the Innamincka township would have all the contact details, Santos would have responded without being directed to by the RFDS. Santos have done this on many occasions with medical emergencies for the general public in their area of operations.

Old mate…..

Moomba will only ever get involved when directed so by the RFDS….

Fully appreciate your words of confidence, you have hit the nail on the head and I just tried to give reader first hand information before any media ABC made the story public.

All the Best

Stephen

Hi Qldcamper

First of all for everyone to know, the person that gave me first hand information is a trusted friend that I have personally known for decades and is in no way a pawn to get me to circulate misleading information.

He was a member of the team of volunteers helping out at Innamincka and was there when this very serious medical event happened, and it had a very big effect on everyone that was there at the time, with the 3 paramedics working continuously on their patient for 6 hours and with their high qualifications….and all South Australian’s , 2 of who are still paramedics ambos, and not overseas people with no qualifications as one person kept on trying to say, were refused the clinic amenities that would have helped greatly.

Before I personally put anything to print, I then personally contacted 5 of my personal contacts that live and work at Innamincka to hear their side of the story, 2 of whom are actually Government works and all confirmed what my friend A personally told me.

With 100% facts in hand and fuming, I then wrote a very big speal and highlighted the very serious situation that took place at Innamincka. First thing the very next morning I personally rang the RFDS head office in Adelaide and asked questions that I wanted answers.

From there it absolutely snowballed as I was getting more and more complaints from dozens of people, or others that have had similar experiences. Of all the countless people that contacted me, there were only 2 people that very extremely vocal of what I said and were trying to discredit what I said and I asked the question, that I believe they must have been RFDS employees.

The shit fight kept on going and every time I said countless times that I was purely on the hunt for heads to roll for administration personnel, and fully supported the doctors, nurses, pilots and crew that are the true face on the ground of the RFDS.

At this stage it was still not publicly known in the media, so I then rang 2 of my personal contacts at the ABC in Port Pirie, who then both followed up on my story, one who actually interviewed one of my Innamincka contacts and a spokesperson from the RFDS in Adelaide over the radio and was then also told as a news story and then, I think 2-3 days later did the bigger story that was posted on the ABC, so again information was not told or known by any other media outlet.

Then Sunday evening, the RFDS had been monitoring everything that was being said and against what I requested and told by the RFDS spokesperson, the CEO from Adelaide then jumped in, admitted there were issues and did his hardest to discredit what I had said……biggest mistake Tony V…….

Well this was the final straw that broken the camels back, one of the 3 volunteer paramedics who was able to publicly comment then got on and what he said was an absolute serious bombshell for the RFDS and then showed everyone the serious nature of the incident.

I have since found out far more facts that need to be answered and know one thing for sure that I hope serious questions will asked by the National body of the RFDS.

Also I kept on saying that if the gentleman died, the Coroner would have been far more critical of the events and made my comments look kind.

I now call this my personal David v Goliath battle for all the people here on the EO forum that tried to publicly put me down and these are the people that give misinformation and try to discredit me, as I said I was only letting people here on the forum the true facts of a very serious situation and like I have also said, if my friend never told me what had happened, would this incident just been another coverup and swept under the carpet?

Cheers

Stephen