| SA Ambulance Service | |
|---|---|
| Agency overview | |
| Jurisdiction | Government of South Australia |
| Employees | 2,500+ |
| Agency executive | Mr Ray Creen, Chief Executive |
| Website | |
| www.saambulance.com.au | |
SA Ambulance Service is a Government agency under SA Health, that is the sole provider of emergency ambulance transport, clinical care and patient transport services to over 1.5 million people, distributed across an area of 1,043,514 square kilometres in South Australia, Australia.
The service employs approximately 1200 people, and utilizes 1500 volunteers, working out of 105 locations, operating 385 ambulance vehicles to provide emergency, non-emergency, aeromedical, rescue and retrieval services across the entire state.
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SA Ambulance Service is known to operate a variety of emergency and non-emergency vehicles across the state, which travel in excess of 10 million kilometres each year.
All vehicles have distinctive livery, high visibility LED lightbar and warning lights and sirens. Recently introduced new design livery has improved visibility and safety.
Mercedes Sprinter 315 Vans operate around metropolitan areas whereas country areas use a variety of Ford F350's and Mercedes Sprinter 316, 315 and 318 Vans. All emergency ambulance crews rostered within the Adelaide metropolitan area are skilled at least Paramedic level with numerous crews skilled at Intensive Care Paramedic level. These are the only emergency ambulances equipped with stretchers to transport patients.
Mercedes Benz Sprinter 315 vans have replaced Ford F series for use by the Ambulance Patient Transport Service. These vehicles do not carry the same equipment as standard emergency ambulances but are equipped at Basic Life Support level.
SAAS also operate a team of Extended Care Paramedics[1], who operate from Mercedes Vito vans. Unlike regular paramedics, ECPs are able to treat patients for common medical issues, and refer to other health providers such as GPs if needed, reducing the need to transport patients to hospital emergency departments unnecessarily.
SPRINT Paramedics[2][3] use Subaru Forester AWD and the Ford Territory AWD vehicles for rapid response purposes within the Adelaide metropolitan area.
SPRINT paramedics[2] also utilise bicycles at major events where heavy pedestrian traffic may reduce response times for larger vehicles. The crews may be used to help guide ambulances through busy areas, and carry limited medical equipment including oxygen and a defibrillator.
SAAS is currently trialling the use of rapid response motorbikes[2], and operates two bikes staffed between six SPRINT paramedics who have been specially trained in conjunction with Victoria Police.
SAAS use a mix of Holden Commodore (Sedan, Wagon, and Captiva variants) and Ford Territory AWD vehicles for Team Leaders and Managers. The Special Operations Team use two Nissan Patrol 4WD vehicles when performing the SOT single responder role. A Toyota Bus (CV1) and a VW Kombi van (CV2) are used as command vehicles for major incidents and planned events.
SAAS are the controlling authority for the three Motor Accident Commission (MAC) Rescue Helicopters, for the use of roadside trauma response, medical retrievals, training exercises and SAPOL and CFS operations. The Royal Flying Doctor Service operate a number of Pilatus PC12 aircraft performing inter-hospital transfers from regional area and first response ambulance service in remote areas.
Special Operations Team (SOT) rescue paramedics are trained in high-risk rescue procedures. They work closely with other emergency services and the South Australian Police STAR Group. SOT Paramedics also cycle through the new MedSTAR retrieval service.
The SAAS Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) is based in Eastwood, Adelaide, who primarily answer emergency triple-zero (000) calls using the MPDS dispatch system and coordinate SA Ambulance Service resources. The EOC also coordinates the dispatch of the Adelaide Bank State Rescue Helicopter Service. EOC call-takers also provide hospitals with information on clients of the MedicAlert foundation, coordinate calls from the Divers' Emergency Service Network and the SA Trauma Service.
Communications between paramedics and the EOC is conducted primarily through SA GRN pagers and radios, but mobile phones may also be used in some circumstances.
SAAS came into being in 1993 as a result of the Ambulance Services Act 1992 which formed an association S.A. St. John Ambulance Service Inc as a joint venture between the Minister of Health and Priory in Australia of the Grand Priory of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem[4]. The name of the association was amended to SA Ambulance Service Inc in 2005[5] and in 2008[6], SAAS became an agency under the Minister of Health.
From 1951[7] till 1993, ambulance services in South Australia were run by the St. John Council for South Australia Inc. which was part of St John Ambulance. Prior to this the metropolitan area was served by[8]:
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