South Australians will benefit from additional ambulance resources as SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) today released its COVID-Ready Plan.
The Plan expands the paramedic workforce by preparing a ‘super group’ of up to 100 final-year students and employing 96 interns (double the 48 originally planned for 2022).
The Plan includes a raft of measures such as additional Triple Zero (000) call takers, fast-tracked recruitment of qualified paramedics, partnerships with other emergency services to increase rural capacity and increased single emergency response cars.
SAAS is also preparing to commence a non-ambulance transport service for a small number of predicted COVID-19 patients.
Final year paramedic science students will complete ambulance driver training as soon as next week to boost SAAS resources as borders open.
The future paramedics, from Flinders University, will be trained immediately so they can be on the road if required, driving non-urgent patients with support from existing patient transport officers. They may also assist in routine transport of COVID-19 patients within community care pathways.
Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said the SAAS Plan will increase the number of ambulances and qualified paramedics that are available to the community.
“As we move towards our vaccination targets and opening our borders, we are making sure that our ambulance system is ready to manage any increases in demand due to COVID-19, as well as being able to respond to day-to-day medical emergencies,” said Minister Wade.
“By fast-tracking student training, we’re not only getting these ambitious future paramedics on the road sooner, we are also supporting SAAS to respond to emergency patients.
“It is fantastic to see so many of our paramedic students and graduates putting up their hand to support our State’s pandemic response, stepping up to protect our community.
“The Plan is bold, but it is a manageable, responsible and safe plan. We are ensuring South Australia is COVID-ready and we are prepared for whatever comes.”
Further measures include streaming of non-urgent medical calls to alternative services including virtual care via telehealth, bolstering ambulance service equipment and fleet vehicles, as well as the use of private providers and other agencies if required.
SAAS Interim Chief Executive Officer Rob Elliott, said we want South Australians to know that, once our borders reopen, SAAS will be ready for anyone that needs emergency care.
“Recruiting a range of roles, from students to experienced qualified paramedics, is a really sensible and safe way of increasing the availability of resources across the board,” said Mr Elliot.
“Final year university students will be able to support experienced ambulance officers with low acuity patients and our paramedic interns and experienced paramedic recruits are being fast tracked into the community for emergency responses.
“I thank our up-and-coming frontline workers, and on behalf of all, I express our appreciation for their commitment to the community.”
Intern Emma Caunce was put through her driving training paces in the most recent paramedic internship ‘super group’ of 32 recruits.
“COVID-19 has been a challenging time for everyone and working with SAAS is a rewarding way to help my community. The training is second to none and I’m really happy to start my paramedic career knowing there is a full plan for SAAS as we start out there,” said Ms Caunce.
To view a summary of the SAAS COVID-19 Resilience Plan visit www.sahealth.sa.gov.au
