Nearly three quarters of a new fleet of state-of-the-art ambulances will be rolled out in rural areas of SA in the coming weeks, in a state government bid to boost health services and response times.
A total of 32 ambulances will be allocated to regional areas, with the remaining 14 going to metropolitan sites.
The new Mercedes-Benz VS30 Sprinter ambulances - each costing about $140,000 - have improved safety features, Wi-Fi for ease of transmitting clinical data, leather seats for infection control, and are each equipped with powerlift stretchers.
Yankalilla, Penola and Cleve will receive the first of the new ambulances, with Minlaton, Kingscote, Riverton, Mannum, Hamley Bridge and Tailem Bend to follow.
The remaining ambulances in the fleet are expected to be on SA roads by August 2020.
We have some of the best clinicians in the world - it makes sense to support them with modern vehicles.
- DAVID PLACE
The fleet complements recent resourcing boosts into SA Ambulance Service, including major building works to ambulance stations across the state, and the recruitment of additional paramedics and Triple Zero (000) call takers.
Health and wellbeing minister Stephen Wade said Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Stephen Wade, said the new ambulances would help deliver life-saving patient outcomes.
"The Marshall Liberal Government is focused on boosting patient services and this investment in a new state-of-the-art ambulance fleet is one of the many ways we are delivering that for all South Australians," Minister Wade said.
"We've been working closely with SA Ambulance Service to make improvements for our hardworking crews and to deliver improved health care for our patients.
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"Our ambulances are turning out to more emergencies than ever before. This investment will future-proof our service and better prepare us for any second wave of coronavirus."
SAAS chief executive officer David Place said the new vehicles employ the latest technology and are increasingly being used by emergency services across the globe.
"We have some of the best clinicians in the world - it makes sense to support them with modern vehicles," he said.
Mr Place said two-person ambulance crews across the state respond to more than 800 incidents between them each day.
- Details: saambulance.com.au
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