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14 June 2018

MICHAEL FERGUSON

Minister for Health

More support for ambulance services

The Hodgman Liberal Government is committed to supporting paramedics and volunteer ambulance officers and improving ambulance response times in Tasmania.

Ambulance services are so often the frontline of our health services, assisting Tasmanians everyday by being the first respondents in stressful and challenging situations.

We’ve already significantly increased ambulance services, but there’s more to do. This year’s Budget commences our six-year, $125 million plan to boost ambulance services by employing more paramedics, building better facilities and providing more training resources. These investments will save lives.

The Budget includes:

  • $31.9 million for an entirely new aeromedical service. This is the centrepiece of our strong plan for ambulance services in Tasmania, and will be the first time the state has a dedicated aeromedical service. It is a giant step forward for our capacity to respond quickly to incidents in rural and remote parts of the state.
  • $14.9 million for the progressive recruitment of 42 new rural and regional paramedics.
  • Nearly $3 million to support 6 new staff members at the Statewide Operations Centre, which is in addition to the five staff already recruited.
  • $12 million for the new Glenorchy and Burnie ambulance stations, plus approximately $5 million of the $15 million rural hospital and ambulance station upgrade fund.
  • $800,000 per annum for the Volunteer Support Package, to support our volunteer paramedics by delivering improved coordination, training and recognition.

Importantly, $60 million of this new funding will be delivered within the first three years, enabling the recruitment of 56 new staff and the completion of important capital projects.

These investments will represent a record uplift in capacity, ensuring our service is safer, that paramedics are better able to respond with more support from volunteer ambulance officers, and that there is more paramedic presence in regional and rural communities.