Page 5144 - Week 17 - Wednesday, 12 December 1990
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
MINISTER FOR HEALTH, EDUCATION AND TIC ARTS
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION
QUESTION TAKEN ON NOTICE ON 25 OCTOBER 1990
Ambulance Service
MR BERRY - asked the Minister for Health, Education and the Arts:
Is the Minister aware of the case of a 15 year old boy with a papa spinal abscess and a risk of paraplegia, who required an ambulance to take him to Sydney for an evaluation of his condition and who could not get an ambulance. His parents, who have ambulance cover, had to borrow a station wagon and put a mattress in it. His doctor had to modify his intravenous drip and provide antibiotics and extra pain killing drugs so that he could make the trip in an unsatisfactory vehicle with increased risks and pain from his condition, in breach of road safety rules.
MR HUMPHRIES - the answer to Mr Berrys question is
I understand the ACT Ambulance Service received a call from the boys doctor at 7.30pm on Wednesday 24 October 1990, requesting an ambulance to transport a patient4by road to Sydney, for an appointment at 9.00 am on Thursday 25 October 1990.
The on-duty Supervising Officer advised the doctor that the Services procedure was not to transport patients to Sydney by road but the preferred mode of transport was the NSW Air Ambulance Service. The Supervising Officer offered to arrange co-ordination of the NSW Air Ambulance Service. The ACT Ambulance Service has reciprocal arrangements with the NSW Ambulance Service which includes the NSW Air Ambulance Service.
The doctor rejected the advice and indicated he would advise the patients parents to arrange transport to Sydney in a private vehicle.
5144
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .