The State Government is making a historic investment of over half a billion dollars in the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS SA/NT) to improve aeromedical transport services. The $509.4 million agreement will last 10 years and hopes to improve patient transfers across the region.
Under this agreement, the operational capacity at Adelaide Airport will see a major increase, allowing for the deployment of four aircraft during the day and three overnight. For the first time, a dedicated emergency response aircraft will be part of the fleet, and the initiative will also feature South Australian branding on the aircraft to showcase the partnership.
To support these services, the RFDS will expand its frontline team by adding 23.4 full-time equivalent staff, including nurses, pilots, engineers, and support staff. Two nurses will be stationed 24/7 at the Adelaide Patient Transfer Facility, so that patients receive continuous care and that RFDS Flight Nurses are prepared for immediate departures.
This investment is set to speed up patient retrieval times. New key performance indicators (KPIs) will reduce the target response time for emergency jobs, requiring RFDS aircraft to take off within 20 minute – a massive improvement from the previous 45-minute standard.
The rapid response capability will improve access to critical care, especially in areas that previously required longer helicopter flights. This change will facilitate quicker movement of patients from metropolitan hospitals to closer facilities, and improve access for those travelling to major hospitals. Each flight will be staffed by RFDS nurses for urgent inter-hospital transfers or by SAAS MedSTAR critical care teams, including doctors, nurses, and paramedics, for retrieval operations.
The agreement also includes measures to monitor aircraft availability and maintenance to make sure that the RFDS can consistently meet the demands of the service. A dedicated contract and relationship manager will oversee the implementation of these targets.
Currently, SAAS MedSTAR and RFDS conduct around 7,400 inter-hospital transfers and retrievals each year. Co-branded Pilatus aircraft for government-funded retrievals are set to take to the skies this week, with additional assets expected to be up and running by December.
“We are honoured to continue what is a remarkable partnership with the South Australian Government. This new agreement will take this partnership to almost 40 years of collaboration and service,” Royal Flying Doctor Service SA/NT Chairman Peter de Cure AM said.
“Together, SAAS MedSTAR retrieval teams and RFDS aeromedical teams deliver exceptional care for thousands of South Australians every year.
“The financial support and operational funding provided by the Government provides long-term security and a commitment to an enhanced level of serviceability which will benefit regional patients.
“Within this agreement and outside of it, the RFDS will continue to bring together more than $100 million of fundraising dollars for South Australia over the next decade, investing in regional infrastructure and healthcare technologies that support the communities we collectively serve.”
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