08 December 2006

A new direction for emergency medical helicopter services

CHC Australia has been awarded the tender to provide new and improved helicopters to deal with the growing future demands of NSW people, Health Minister John Hatzistergos announced today.

"This tender is the beginning of a new direction for state-of-the-art medical helicopter retrieval services in NSW," Mr Hatzistergos said.

"CHC Australia has 37 years experience providing helicopter services in Australia, and made a winning bid based on providing more aircraft, sooner.

"They also demonstrated strong experience and capabilities in providing emergency helicopter services and the maintenance, engineering, equipment and safety they require.

"They currently contract to the RAAF, Victoria Police, and ambulance services in Queensland, Victoria, ACT and WA," he said.

New aircraft - new capabilities

"The new aircraft will have better heavy load capacity, greater range, better reliability, better poor weather capacity, faster speed, and standard fit-out and equipment," Mr Hatzistergos said.

"For the first time there will be a dedicated back-up helicopter, meaning we will have 100 per cent availability even when training or maintenance is underway," he said.
Mr Hatzistergos said the new service will provide:

• Standardised fit out and equipment in all helicopters so staff can be immediately familiar with any aircraft.
• Capacity to carry two patients or a patient heavier than 120kgs.
• Improved poor weather performance along with the standard fit out will allow pilots and specialist clinicians (doctors and paramedics) to operate from all aircraft, reducing delays due to logistical or poor weather factors.
• Improved safety features and greater range, flying 30 percent faster, improving access to patients and reducing pressure on regional services.
• A back up aircraft that will allow helicopters to be available 100 percent of the contracted time. Currently at least one of the four helicopters in the Greater Sydney area is unavailable for four hours or more for 20 to 30 percent of days each month.
• The new helicopters will be twin-engine, capable of controlled flight in the event of failure of one engine - an important safety improvement given the number of landings in built up urban areas.
• Plans to increase coverage to a 24 hour service based in Wollongong.
• Improved capacity for NSW Health to respond effectively to mass casualty incidents.

Mr Hatzistergos said there would be no change to the current ambulance fees as a result of the change in helicopter operator.
"We have significantly boosted funding for emergency medical helicopter and associated retrieval services - an additional $116m will be provided over the next 10 years," he said.

Staff will be kept on

"All of the pilots and ground crew working for the current providers will be offered positions with the new operator," Mr Hatzistergos said.

"All doctors and paramedics who work on these helicopters for the Ambulance Service and under contract can continue to work on the new aircraft," he said.

NRMA Careflight and Westpac Surf Life Saver

"I want to thank the current operators, NRMA Careflight and Westpac Surf Life Saver, for their commitment and professionalism over many years," Mr Hatzistergos said.

"The NSW Ambulance Service works hand-in-glove with NRMA Careflight and Westpac Surf Life Saver all around the state.

"They have provided loyal service over many years, and we want to see this productive relationship continue.

"We recognise the significant connection and loyalty the community feels for these organisations.

"Consequently we will today start direct negotiations with NRMA Careflight and Westpac Surf Life Saver about continuing our partnership through sponsorship and naming rights opportunities for the new aircraft," he said.

Wollongong to get a new 24 hour a day service

Mr Hatzistergos said that the new network arrangements will allow the Wollongong Helicopter to operate on a 24 hour a day basis.

"This will be a major boost for the Illawarra - with the emergency helicopter service going from being 10 hours a day to 24 hours a day.

"It means faster response times to night-time emergency call-outs in the region, with a helicopter based in Wollongong instead of being sent down from Sydney," he said.

Regional helicopters - Newcastle, Tamworth, Lismore and Canberra

Mr Hatzistergos said the extended range of the new helicopters would ease the pressure on regionally based helicopter services in Newcastle, Tamworth, Lismore and Canberra to support Sydney.

"When the final service is in place, the helicopters will have an extended range which includes locations as far away as Kempsey, Tamworth, Cooma, Condobolin, Wagga Wagga and Cooma," he said.

"These helicopters will not replace the aircraft based in Newcastle, Tamworth, Lismore and Canberra.

"In fact the extended capabilities of the new aircraft will mean that there is less pressure on the regional operators, and today I can announce we will be talking to the current operators about renewing their contracts," he said.
Independent tender process

NSW Minister for Commerce, John Della Bosca said CHC Australia was selected following a rigorous and comprehensive tender process which began in May.

"Tender specifications were drawn up in consultation with the current operators. The tender was flexible enough to accommodate organisations who wanted to provide services at one location or all locations as sole operators or with other organisations," Mr Della Bosca said.

"The tender was managed by the Department of Commerce for the State Contracts Control Board, with advice from Ambulance, NSW Health, Victorian Air Ambulance and an aviation expert. An independent probity auditor oversaw the process.

"The tender evaluation committee undertook a thorough evaluation including site audits and financial reviews on the preferred tenders before making their final recommendation," he said.

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au