The Provincial Government is taking further
action to enhance the Air Ambulance Program with the awarding of a
tender to Provincial Airlines for fixed wing air ambulance charter
services for the next year. The Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of
Health and Community Services, made the announcement today.
The Provincial Government has been utilizing
charter services on a regular basis for a number of years. Since June 15
and until August 13, the Provincial Government has held a retainer with
a charter aircraft service to respond to medical transports when one of
the two air ambulance aircraft was not available. Prior to this, charter
aircrafts have regularly been used when an aircraft was unavailable.
This contract will replace any current use of charter aircraft and will
provide enhanced capabilities for air ambulance transports out of the
province.
"This new contract will provide the ability to
fly long distances without the need to refuel and will primarily be used
for the transport of patients for specialized out-of-province medical
services," said Minister Kennedy. "In addition, the charter will serve
as back-up support for in-province medical transport to assist the two
provincial air ambulance aircraft stationed in St. John's and Happy
Valley-Goose Bay when one of the aircraft is unavailable. This is
especially relevant over the next year as we wait for the new
aircraft to replace the aging plane in St. John's."
A tender was issued by the Provincial
Government on June 29, 2010 to place a charter aircraft on retainer for
a minimum of one year. The tender called for an aircraft capable of
flying long distances without refueling and available 24 hours a day.
The tender closed on July 20, 2010 and two bids were submitted.
Following an evaluation process, Provincial Airlines was selected as the
successful bidder.
The Provincial Airlines jet is equipped to fly
non-stop from St. John's to Toronto without refueling. The benefits of
not having to refuel include improved safety for the patient, shorter
flight times and greater efficiency.
The charter aircraft is not intended to replace the two existing King
Air aircraft stationed in St. John's and Happy Valley-Goose Bay or the
Twin Otter which responds to air ambulance calls on the Labrador coast.
"We are pleased that the Provincial Government
has supported the incorporation of a charter contract service for
long-haul flights into air ambulance aircraft options, along with the
two existing aircraft," said Dr. Douglas Baggs, Provincial Medical
Director, Paramedicine and Medical Transport, based at Eastern Health.
"This will ensure we can provide a highly-reliable level of service, as
well as meet some specific operational and medical considerations with
long-distance out-of-province flights. The province as a whole, and
individual patients, will benefit from this important step in medical
flight services."
In 2009, approximately 65 patients were
transported for out-of-province medical services, the majority of which
were for cardiac procedures, transplants and children being transported
from the Janeway. Given that pediatric and tertiary services are based
in St. John's, the charter will be stationed there.
"The enhancement to medical flight services
for long-haul flights and on-demand back-up is a positive step forward,"
said Corey Banks, Manager and Emergency Medical Services Chief,
Paramedicine and Medical Transport. "The assured access to back-up
aircraft over the next year strengthens the air transport capabilities
that are such a vital component of our provincial health care system.
This will assist our dispatch center and medical flight teams to rapidly
deploy to requests for service."
"Changes to the air ambulance program have
been made to enhance the service provided and our government will
continue to examine ways to further improve the service as recommended
in the independent review," said Minister Kennedy. "Recruitment is
ongoing for the second medical flight team to be stationed with the King
Air in Happy Valley-Goose Bay."
Changes that have been made since March 25,
2010 include:
-
Following the completion and analysis of an independent review
of air ambulance services in Labrador and Northern Newfoundland, an
investment of $8.7 million in Budget 2010 to 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. On June 4, 2010, the air ambulance was re-located to
Happy Valley-Goose Bay where it is permanently stationed.
- Ongoing recruitment of the second medical flight
team to be stationed in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.