Page 4824 - Week 15 - Thursday, 16 December 1993

MINISTER FOR HEALTH

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION

QUESTION N0.1138

Emergency Management Centre - Communications

Equipment

Mr Humphries - asked the Minister for Health:

1. Did several ambulance units report communication difficulties between the vehicles

and the operation centre on the weekend of 10-12 December 1993.

2. If so, (a) did these communication difficulties result in some confusion about

destinations of units responding to priority calls and (b) have these difficulties now

been resolved.

(3) Has any assessment been made of the effectiveness of communications equipment

at the new Curtin headquarters of ACT Emergency Management; if so, what are

the results of this assessment.

Mr Berry - the answer to Mr Humphries question is:

(1) Several ambulance units did report some variation in the quality and volume of

transmissions between the vehicle and the Co-Ordination Centre on the weekend

of 10-12 December 1993.

(2) (a) There were no reports that the variation in quality or volume of

transmissions resulted in any confusion about destinations of units

responding to priority calls.

(b) Technical support persons are working to ensure the new radio equipment

is operating appropriately and providing high quality radio transmissions.

(3) Informal assessment of the effectiveness of communications equipment has been

ongoing since the move to the North Curtin Centre reflecting the continuing work

to maximise the quality of the system. Formal commissioning and testing of the

operating effectiveness of the communications equipment forms part of the

installation contract. This will be undertaken following the complete installation of

all radio systems.