Health and Community Services
Transportation and Works
March 25, 2010Provincial
Government Announces Changes to
Provincial Air Ambulance Program
Following the completion and analysis of a review of
air ambulance services in Labrador and Northern Newfoundland, the
Provincial Government today announced it will change and enhance the
provincial air ambulance program. Through an investment of $8.7 million
in Budget 2010, the Provincial Government will replace the existing
aging aircraft in St. John's, add a second medical flight team to the
air ambulance program in the province and, based on the results of the
review, relocate the air ambulance service to Happy Valley-Goose Bay
from St. Anthony to provide better response times for transfers. The
Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services,
was joined today by the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of
Transportation and Works, for the announcement.
"Our government recognizes the importance of
responding to health care needs in all regions of our province and I am
pleased today to announce changes to the provincial air ambulance
program," said Minister Kennedy. "Residents of our province need to have
an air ambulance program that is reliable and ensures patients are
transported in a timely manner to access health care services."
The Provincial Government received the final report of
the review of air ambulance services and the corresponding list of
recommendations on March 19, 2010. The report included recommendations
on the location of air ambulance services and additional resources
required.
An investment of $700,000 in Budget 2010, amounting to
an annual investment of $1.1 million, will support the implementation of
a second medical flight specialist team to be located in Happy
Valley-Goose Bay. This new flight team will significantly enhance
patient care by providing additional medical professionals locally and
reducing patient wait times for those needing to travel to other parts
of the province for required medical treatment.
"Currently there is only one medical flight team
located in St. John's which causes considerable delay in circumstances
where the plane must fly to St. John's to pick up the team before then
flying to pick up the patient for transfer," said Minister Kennedy. "By
establishing a second flight team, to be located with the air ambulance
aircraft, we will ensure that the response time to emergency situations
will be significantly reduced since a team will not be required to fly
to the Labrador region from St. John's."
The review of air ambulance services recommended that
the air ambulance aircraft be moved from St. Anthony to Happy
Valley-Goose Bay. According to statistics contained in the report, there
are more patient transfers from Labrador than from St. Anthony. The
report recommended that the air ambulance be centrally located to serve
the population of Labrador City, Wabush, Happy Valley-Goose Bay,
Churchill Falls, the South Coast of Labrador, the North Coast of
Labrador and the St. Anthony-Port au Choix region.
"According to flight statistics from 2006 to 2009,
there are twice as many patient pickups from Labrador as compared to St.
Anthony and the report states that the population base of Labrador
supports that the second air ambulance aircraft and medical flight team
be centrally located in Happy Valley-Goose Bay," said Minister Kennedy.
"Based on the results of the review, we believe the movement of the air
ambulance program to a central location will provide timely response
times for residents of Labrador and Northern Newfoundland when air
ambulance transfer is required. While I know the residents of St.
Anthony will be disappointed that this service is being relocated, we
must do what is in the best interests of the people who rely upon this
service based upon the recommendations of this independent, thorough
review. I want to assure the people of St. Anthony that they will
continue to receive good service from the air ambulance program."
The current air ambulance based in St. John's is
approximately 20 years old and will be replaced with a new Beechcraft
King Air 350. The aircraft will provide transportation for residents of
the province in the event of health emergencies. It is equipped to carry
two stretchers, medical equipment and supplies, along with four
medically-trained personnel and two pilots. In 2008, a new King
Air aircraft became operational in St. Anthony, made possible by a $7.8
million investment by the Provincial Government. The aircraft, which is
located in St. Anthony, will be moved to Happy Valley-Goose Bay along
with a new medical flight team.
"The purchase of a new air ambulance to replace the
aging aircraft in St. John's will bring improved reliability to this
vitally important service," said Minister Hedderson. "A new aircraft
will mean less down-time due to a less frequent need for inspections,
maintenance and repairs and will serve as a cornerstone in our efforts
to provide high quality emergency medical transportation services to
people throughout the province."
The review was conducted by Wes Drodge of WJD
Consulting Inc., a consultant with over 30 years senior management
experience in the health care sector and acknowledges the important role
the air ambulance service plays in the delivery of health care in the
province.
It contains eight recommendations:
- The air ambulance aircraft should be located in
Happy Valley-Goose Bay to serve the people of Labrador and Northern
Newfoundland;
- There should be a second medical flight
specialist team stationed in Happy Valley-Goose Bay to accompany the
air ambulance aircraft to be located there;
- The aircraft flight crews and the medical flight
specialist teams must be sufficiently staffed to provide a 24/7
level of service;
- There must be aircraft available to provide a
24/7 level of service;
- To ensure consistent training and to maintain
competence, the teams should rotate as necessary;
- The air ambulance service should be organized as
a single program with a single administrative structure;
- Data gathering, reporting and analysis must be
standardized; and,
- If a third aircraft were to be considered it
should be located in Deer Lake.
"The investments we have announced today will go a
long way in enhancing the current air ambulance program," said Minister
Kennedy. "Our government is committed to providing quality health care
services to all residents of the province. To that end, we will review
the remaining recommendations in the report to determine how the service
may be further enhanced."
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