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Health and Community Services

July 30, 2010

Further Enhancements Made to the Provincial Air Ambulance Program

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.

Approximately $960,000 was spent in 2009 on charter usage and costs associated with the King Air transporting patients out of province. The retainer with Provincial Airlines will cost approximately $92,000 a month (retainer fee) plus other related costs. The current retainer for a charter aircraft service costs an estimated $91,000 a month (retainer fee) plus other related costs, but does not have the ability to fly long distances without refueling.

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Media contact:

Tansy Mundon
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 685-2646
tansymundon@gov.nl.ca

Diane Hart
Director, Strategic Communications
709-777-1338
Diane.Hart@easternhealth.ca

 

2010 07 30                                                    11:20 a.m.

 


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