OT- Bye bye Westpac/Careflight services

Signman,

Considering that 2/3's of the funding for this service was via donation and corporate sponsorship and the new arrangement will COST many, many millions more - why ???

I think you're right re 'empires'. They've stuffed the rest of the Health system in this state so they may as well go for the only bit that consistently worked effectively and with no complaints.

Dave,

If we're lucky, they'll do half the job. The problem is it will cost the NSW taxpayer around 10 times what it does now according to estimates in the media.

Andrew,

Who said "they are the best provider of a quality rescue service" ???

Andrew,

That's not the same CQ rescue choppers involved in a couple of fatal accidents down around Marlborough some years back is it?

I'm with you Al, why the heck would the govt. want to change the current arrangement where it costs the taxpayers MUCH less financially for what should effectively be the same service. It would be nice to be able to afford govt. logic in my home.

Cheers Trevor.

Trevor,

Need to check your facts on the CQ chopper accidents. I lost two good mates on those and in the one near Marlborough mother nature was the cause.

I have just retired after 25 years with the QLD ambulance and in my experience in SE QLD, Careflight provide a better, faster service than what is provided by the government chopper based at Archerfield.

They crew it with a doctor and paramedic at the base 24x7 whereas due to budget cuts etc, the paramedics have been removed from the flight crew of the government chopper.

I will take the careflight model any day.

Al,

I didn't say they (CHC) were necessarily the best, rather " I say IF they are the best provider of a quality rescue service then by all means use them". The Westpac /Careflight guys may just provide the best service from a technical viewpoint.....who really knows? I agree though that if there is a quality service at the moment, then why change it. There is obviously some underlying issues with which we are not aware of for the reason behind the changes. The thing that annoys me is that people imply that the alternative providers may be sub-standard, when there is no evidence to back these statements.

I reinforce Brian's sediments with respect to these accidents and in fact they are unrelated to the Mackay provider of rescue services. Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Services are serviced and supplied by "Jayrow Helicopters" IIRC whereas CQ Rescue is provided by CHC. Both have high standards to maintain and i'm sure they achieve these standards.

Andrew

Andrew,

One of the main issues in this is the way it has been handled. Westpac and Careflight were effectively muzzled till after the decision was announced. CHC may well be a very well run and effective organization but they will now suffer because of the way the process has been handled.

I think there's a lot more to come out of this as the parties involved are only just beginning to tell their side of it.

My understanding of this arrangement will be that CHC will not operate the rescue service under their own name, rather will be linked to either a public company (Careflight maybe ??) or less likely the Government Emergency Services department.

I would have thought that Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service and Careflight would tender for this service.......thereby requiring them to follow confidentiality protocols until the successful tenderer was announced.

One of the benefits we obtain from having such a large provider of helicopter services worldwide is the opportunity to upgrade and/or trial larger helicopters as has been the case here..........though unfortunately this may be the downfall of the smaller providers eg WRHS. Even with standby helicopters in place due to scheduled maintanence, unscheduled maintanence can effectively render the provider inoperatable......as has been the case in places. A business who has access to surplus helicopters must look good on the tender forms in all cases, potentially affecting the community based providers from competing on a local level. :-(

I personally like the thought of a community based organisation providing rescue services for their local community, though the issues of exceptional unscheduled maintanence (outside of any spare resources required by the providers at the moment) becomes a concern. Maybe the Government should fund a spare helicopter to slot into this role throughout the State, thereby having the best of both worlds.

Andrew

Surely there is an Australian mob who could do it!!!

"My understanding of this arrangement will be that CHC will not operate the rescue service under their own name, rather will be linked to either a public company"

That is how it is run in WA, CHC provide the pilots, etc, and work in conjuction with St Johns (a private org)n who supply paramedical support, staff and equipment and FESA (a govt org) who provide the management and funding. Due to WA's ESL arrangements, FESA is required to manage in order to obtain the funding from State govt and ESL, but do not have the prehospital medical expertise to man it, which is where St Johns come into it.

From my experience working with the chopper service, it has done a fantastic job and has, Im sure given the many people that require its service another chance at life. I know last night if we did not have it at an MVA I attended, the outcome could and would have been very different. Not bad for a quasi govt private resource sponsored by an insurance company!

WA, has only had this service for a very short time, albeit it a limited one due to only one chopper. The standard has always been high. I cant comment on other states, and the change over from careflight to the new arangements. I am sure that any service is better than none, however as with all persons, it is important that the standard is as high, or if not higher.

Lets hope that when a service like this is required, there is something inplace that can offer it.

Brian B,

My facts are not straight, relating to the CQ Rescue crashes, hence my asking the question of whether that is the same mob we are now about to engage as the NSW rescue service provider. My appologies for stiring up old wounds but I think if you read my post again you will see I was asking a question and not giving a statement. Hope this clears up things.

Regards, Trevor.

Trevor,

No worries I understand.

I was the Operations Coordinator based in Rockhampton for a time and I got to know the guys quite well. They were great guys and real professionals so I am probably a bit over sensitive on the issue. The morning we lost the chopper at Marlborough was the thickest fog I think I have ever seen and you know that just doesn't mix well with helicopters.

I can't really comment on the group NSW are looking at dealing with.

Have a good one.

Toytruck,

Both organizations have done a remarkable job since day 1. It remains to be seen whether the current staff, with their skills and experience, will be included in the new operation.

hahaha well beyond my capabilities JohnR. I'm flat out influencing SWMBO ....... on a number of things :))))))

Am sure when you put your mind to it Al, all will fall before you. Except perhaps SWMBO. ;-))

You need to take a leaf out of Thommo's book Al and slip into the ol' budgie smugglers for SWMBO every now and then, that ought to 'influence' her a bit ! WOOOHOOO !!!!

Pezza,

LOLOL the last thing I need to worry about is SWMBO suffering incontinence from the laughter that would provoke hahahahahaha

Pezza, I guess we know what departments we have to make Al down in now. Never set him up in the budgie smugglers - ever!

I had understood he was a 'man of influence'......... I won't quote the person directly, they now may feel embarrassed. Honestly Al. Tch tch..

Who calls me villain? breaks my pate across?
Plucks off my beard, and blows it in my face?
Tweaks me by the nose? gives me the lie i' the throat,
As deep as to the lungs? who does me this?
- Hamlet

Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war;
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
With carrion men, groaning for burial.
-Julius Caesar

hehehehehehe old Billy Shakespeare could write a bit. Loved it at school.

Agree 100% on the awarding of Govt contracts. Been through those shenanigans.

It's never a good sign when they announce a change, that one can reasonably expect to elicit a lively response from the electorate, close to Christmas/Easter etc etc.

It's even more worrying when two senior medical officers, employed by the Health Dept, are willing to risk their careers by speaking out publicly and bagging the decision, the process and the motives of the bureaucrats.

You will have to wait till after who ever had the influence in this decision retires and collects his brown paper bag (oops sorry consultants fee) from an associated company to see what really is behind it
Bob

Now, now Bob. Surely you can't be suggesting anything untoward in this process. Besides senior bureaucrats and tollway operators, ex-politicians and various high profile companies, where is the precedent?

You cynical person LOL