- The RAC Rescue Helicopter will soon be staffed by an expert critical care physician and critical care paramedic
- This will improve the lifesaving capabilities of the RAC Rescue Helicopter crew
- Service expansion delivers on recommendations from WA Aeromedical Services Inquiry
- New enhanced model of care has been designed to improve health outcomes, particularly in regional Western Australia
For the first time in Western Australia’s history,the State’s Emergency Rescue Helicopters, known as RAC Rescue, will be staffed by a critical care physician and critical care paramedic, bringing more lifesaving support to those who need it most.
The helicopters, managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) in partnership with WA Country Health Service, St John WA (SJWA) and CHC Helicopters Australia, provide support to more than 90 per cent of Western Australia’s population.
Commencing 14 September, the enhanced physician-paramedic model will start out of Jandakot with Bunbury to closely follow in 2027.
WA Country Health Service has recruited an additional 12 doctors with backgrounds across emergency medicine, anaesthesia and intensive care to support the service.
As well as an expanded clinical scope, the Emergency Rescue Helicopter Service will be integrated into WA Country Health Service’s Command Centre and WA Health’s State Operations Centre (SHOC).
Integration into the Command Centre and SHOC builds on the list of partner agencies currently co-located under one roof, ensuring healthcare, transport and emergency services are co-ordinated as part of one system.
This service expansion delivers on recommendations from the WA Aeromedical Services Inquiry and brings our State in line with leading retrieval services in other jurisdictions.
The RAC Rescue helicopters are funded by the State Government and sponsored by RAC.
Comments attributed to Health Minister Meredith Hammat:
“The Cook Labor Government is proud to be bringing more lifesaving expertise than ever before to those who are critically unwell.
“By delivering a first-of-its-kind aeromedical retrieval model for Western Australia, communities will be supported by both a critical care physician and critical care paramedic.
“These are two highly skilled and specialised clinicians that will work together to get critically unwell patients from where they are, to where they need to be.
“Under this new partnership, Western Australians will benefit from a stronger, more co-ordinated Emergency Rescue Helicopter Service, with enhanced clinical capability and improved State-wide co-ordination.
“We’ve taken on board the findings from the Aeromedical Services Inquiry and embedded them directly into the new and improved RAC Emergency Rescue Helicopter Service.”
Comments attributed to Emergency Services Minister Reece Whitby:
“The RAC Rescue Helicopter is a critical part of emergency response in Western Australia.
“DFES, in partnership with St John WA and CHC Helicopters Australia, have led an incredible service for many years, and this expansion builds on their success.
“This new physician-paramedic model is expected to bring a more co-ordinated approach across healthcare, patient transport and emergency response.
“It brings together the best of the best to make sure people living in the country can access high-quality emergency care.”
