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30 Apr 2008

Lift off for new air ambulance services

It will see the introduction of an ambulance helicopter in Warrnambool to cover the state’s southwest region while a new dedicated retrieval helicopter will be based at Essendon airport to bring critically ill adults, children and babies from country hospitals to specialist care in Melbourne.

MAS Chief Executive Officer Greg Sassella said that the announcement ensured that all Victorians were now fully covered by the air ambulance service.

'These new helicopters are added to our fleet in Melbourne, Bendigo and the Latrobe Valley meaning the whole state is now fully covered,' Mr Sassella said.

South-western Victoria has been very passionate in their support for this service and we always said if the need and workload justified the helicopter then we would seek one. This announcement shows our commitment to the region and we look forward to introducing the new service.

'It is important to remember that this is an air ambulance helicopter, not just a search and rescue chopper. You cannot overstate that the real value in this announcement is not just the speed that a helicopter can bring, but the life saving skills of an intensive care flight paramedic.

The new retrieval helicopter will be important as the Metropolitan Ambulance Service expands the Adult Retrieval Victoria service that it assumed control of last year.

'The introduction of a dedicated retrieval helicopter means that we now have a helicopter available 24 hours a day to bring critically ill people to specialist care in Melbourne.

'It means our emergency air ambulance helicopters can remain available to respond to emergency responses while this helicopter can be customised to accommodate the equipment and resources that goes with the care needed to transport a critically sick person,' Mr Sassella said.

The funding was part of a record statewide $185.7m announcement by Premier John Brumby and Health Minister Daniel Andrews.

ENDS