The much-needed Latrobe Ambulance Station upgrade is on track to be completed this year, as part of our strong plan to improve ambulance services across the state.
Local construction company Fairbrother was awarded the tender for the $1.8 million project earlier this year for our expansion and refurbishment of the station.
The station is now at fit-out stage, meaning all structural building is complete. The garage capacity will increase from holding two ambulances up to four ambulances and one non-emergency transport vehicle.
After visiting the station, I saw first hand the need to improve our staff accommodation. So, adjoining the garage, we are adding a large lounge area with bathrooms for paramedic crews as well as office space. Upstairs will be a training facility and multipurpose rooms for the paramedic crews to rest and recline, as well as extra bathrooms.
This upgrade is the first down-payment on top of the Hodgman Liberal Government’s $125 million investment in Ambulance Services over the next five-and-a-half years.
Our strong investment in ambulance services is already paying off, with response times in Tasmanian coming down over the past year, at the same time as a growing number of responses. This is a real improvement in our service meaning that ambulances are getting to people who need it in an emergency in less time than before.
The Department of Health Annual Report showed median emergency response times were 12.8 minutes statewide in 2017-18 – the lowest since 2014-15, with a reduction in all areas of Tasmania over the past year, despite increasing demand. Ambulance Tasmania has attended more than 10,000 additional responses in 2017-18 compared to three years ago.
In the Mersey area, the median emergency response time in 2017-18 was 9.8 minutes, compared to 11.4 the previous year, and in Burnie, it was 10.2 last year, compared to 12.7 the previous year.
There has never before been such significant investment in ambulances, stations and paramedics on the road as under the Liberals. We will continue to support and improve ambulance services across the state to keep the community safe and make Tasmanians’ lives better.
Our health targets include:
See all our targets at https://www.tas.liberal.org.au/sites/default/files/BuildingYourFuture.pdf