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General Discussion => Other Government Agencies => Topic started by: Robert-Robert34 on April 08, 2006, 06:02:12 PM

Title: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: Robert-Robert34 on April 08, 2006, 06:02:12 PM
Hiya everyone i think its about time we visit the topic of other emergency services that are never mentioned on tv or seen at incidents

A couple months ago i managed to watch a little bit on A Current Affair about an Ambulance Service which is called EMS and its kinda like SAAS community first responders with the first response to medical emergencies

Last Year when i went to Adelaide i can recall my bus went by a medical center and it had Private Emergency Service sign on its front wall with a depot underneath of it

Any thoughts on this as I'm stumped completely and need someone to shed some light on it
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: strikeathird on April 08, 2006, 06:39:20 PM
You mean on Channel 10 in one of the segments, and called EMT's..

Emergency Medical Technicians...


They go to like drug and alhohol hostels, salvo's detox, plus others, and work with the Locom doctors service to assist patients who cant afford ambulance cover.. They are volunteers.

Last I heard there head training officer was the pervious New York EMS training officer...
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: medevac on April 08, 2006, 08:49:16 PM
technically im not sure if the EMTs in SA actually function as an emergency service anymore.... they dotn really run around the place lights and sirens, they are actually more like the SAAS transfer buses... taking bookings and transporting people that cant otherwise afford it. more of a charity?

or at least thats my undertsanding.
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: Scania_1 on April 08, 2006, 09:19:25 PM
There i a crowd around called Workcare Emergency Services or something similar who drive around in cars with red/blue lights. The idea was they would attend workplaces and administer first aid and take people to hospital and so on for less $$ than SAAS. Only thing is there was an article about their director in The Advertiser the other week that he is up on about 40 charges of doing things he shouldnt have been.
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: Scania_1 on April 08, 2006, 09:33:08 PM
here is part of the article
The Advertiser, 15-03-2006, Ed: 1 - State, Pg: 017, 110 words , NEWS
A PROSPECT man accused of running an ambulance service without a licence yesterday pleaded not guilty to 20 charges, including six counts of furnishing false information. David Zammitt - from WorkCare South Australia - faces charges in the Elizabeth ...
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: Robert-Robert34 on April 08, 2006, 10:02:32 PM
I'm not really sure if it was on channel 10 strikeathird but there was a bit about this ambulance service on A Current Affair which is broadcasted on WINSA here in the South East

To be honest i only caught the tail end of this segment as i was busy using my computer but i do remember hearing that this service responds when SAAS is unavailable due to other calls but are volunteers

One part towards the end of this segment the service was filmed on scene by ACA camera crew treating someone for Asthma or a cut to their hand I'm not sure which one it was :?
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: rescue5271 on April 09, 2006, 09:21:06 AM
In NSW and Victoria their are private ambulance companys that are used to do non urgent transfers from hospital back to other hospitals or age care units. There are move's here in SA to look at having the same type of services so as to reduce the workload of SAAS when it comes to doing transfers. The cost is lower that that of a SAAS crew or the SAAS transport crew,the private ambulances provide 24 hrs service around the clock,unlike saas that only work till aboot 5pm here in the south east... The show you are talking about robert was based on a programe that did work with people on the street's in Melbourne around the stkilda area(nice area not) and they where looking for funding to keep their one unit going.

I have come across the guys and girls that work on it as I did patient transfers when I work for a mate who owns one of the largest private ambulance service's in Victoria and it is he that is looking at coming to SA........The crew in the private unit is made up of a reg nurses with a PTO or a paramedic(off duty) who is making extra cash....The system works well in Victoria and crews must under go reviews each year and police checks each year....
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: Robert-Robert34 on April 09, 2006, 09:34:25 AM
Thanks for that rescue 5271 to be honest i wasnt sure if it was in Victoria or South Australia but yeah that one scene as i described in my previous post actually was on the show  :-)
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: strikeathird on April 09, 2006, 12:11:42 PM
I'm not really sure if it was on channel 10 strikeathird but there was a bit about this ambulance service on A Current Affair which is broadcasted on WINSA here in the South East

To be honest i only caught the tail end of this segment as i was busy using my computer but i do remember hearing that this service responds when SAAS is unavailable due to other calls but are volunteers

One part towards the end of this segment the service was filmed on scene by ACA camera crew treating someone for Asthma or a cut to their hand I'm not sure which one it was :?

That was Definately EMT from here in SA. I saw the same article and exact camera footage, but it was on channel 10 over in Adelaide.   (They were wearing blue jumpsuits and had an older ford longreach ambulance)...

Yes robert, they are a vol. group, who as I said, work with the locom doctor service and also work with youth and re-habilitation hostels around the state...
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: Robert-Robert34 on April 09, 2006, 01:33:18 PM
I was right it was filmed in Adelaide  :-D but where is their depot as every volunteer ambulance service across Australia has a depot where the ambulance are housed

It would be good if there were more EMT services around SA so i nthe event of SAAS crews being comitted to other jobs this volunteer ambulance service could respond to other medical emergencies as well as do paitent transfers

Whne you think about it they are kinda like the SAAS community first responders but only have a different colour uniform and amubulance    :-)
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: strikeathird on April 09, 2006, 03:42:23 PM
They used to be at Mitch. RSL , don't know where they are now.

They have been operating for a number of years..

But disagree with them running to SAAS emergencies.. There are systems in place to handle the current SAAS workload, and the training involved to be a SAAS or equivalent qualified PAramedic is far more involved than transporting low priority cases.
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: mattb on April 09, 2006, 06:58:16 PM
A bit of info from the EMT website http://www.emt.org.au

Quote
The EMT Service provides an Emergency Medical and Trauma Service to the sick and poor in South Australia. Our service is located in Adelaide (population one million) and services the entire metropolitan area.

We are a licensed ambulance service through the State Government of South Australia under the Ambulance Services Act (1992). As such we are registered as an Ambulance Service Provider under the Act.

The EMT Service has three programs which are:
 
EMT SERVICE - as a licensed ambulance service provider we operate an ambulance service for the sick and poor.
 
STREETCARE - a service that provides basic life support and first aid to street people in conjunction with other mobile welfare services that provide for the homeless and destitute.
 
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE - a service to other public safety volunteers to provide rapid response advanced life support.
 
We are a completely volunteer organisation and have no paid personnel in any capacity. All of our members are trained as Emergency Medical Technicians (basic and advanced life support) to internationally recognized standards.

These are the guys that Channel Ten did the story on a few weeks ago.

The other organisation that you were talking about is Workcare S.A. http://www.workcaresa.com.au they used to be based on Main North road at Pooraka but have now moved to Port road Hindmarsh.

You would see their sedans running around lights and sirens all the time, that's obviously now been stopped. I remember hearing they didn't actually hold an Ambulance Service license and as such were not permitted to run priority one.
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: strikeathird on April 09, 2006, 07:39:17 PM
If you go to the DOWNLOAD section robert (of the EMT site), you can download one of there videos..

And there is joining info, and info on what they do on the site also.
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: probie_boy on April 10, 2006, 02:28:34 PM
interesting.
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: Robert-Robert34 on April 11, 2006, 10:38:47 PM
Thanks for the link Matt it seems like becoming an EMT is the only way to go now being my application to become an SAAS Volunteer was unsuccessful once again  :-(

Im just hopinmg that they will allow me to join as a first responder even though im in Kalangadoo so i can provide basic first aid to sick &poor people who cant afford SAAS membership cover
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: strikeathird on April 11, 2006, 11:51:23 PM
Mate, the unit runs out of Adelaide.. The only way for training is to attend training nights.. You have to be signed off as competent, and do pracs.. all sorts..


I would say 'active' membership, would be seriously difficult....


See how you go.
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: PF_ on April 12, 2006, 07:58:55 AM
Where is Kalangadoo?
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: strikeathird on April 12, 2006, 10:53:59 AM
Not really in driving distance of the adelaide CBD...



 :lol:
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: probie_boy on April 12, 2006, 03:03:21 PM
a long way away :-D
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: medevac on April 13, 2006, 09:28:57 AM
about 30kms north of mt gambier (SA lower south east)
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: strikeathird on April 14, 2006, 12:21:50 PM
Yep...

Like I said.. not really in driving distance for a 4 hour EMT shift in Adelaide..

Maybe give SAAS vollies another try robert ?
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: rescue5271 on April 14, 2006, 08:43:43 PM
Robert would have to move.................
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: Robert-Robert34 on April 14, 2006, 09:33:34 PM
I tried to get it to SAAS as a volunteer strikeathird but they wouldnt accept my application due me living in Kalangadoo which is not within the required response time vicinity  :cry:

But there was one thing they were right about SAAS & SACFS are very different when it comes to calling volunteers for an emergency the Country Fire Service has a pager alert system but also fire sirens on stations which can be set off to let personnel who didnt hear their pager know of a callout

Where as with SAAS they only have their pagers to inform crews of medical emergencies end of story so living way out of the response time area theres no point of trying again as it will be the same story

Maybe i'll have another crack at trying to rejoin the SES even though it will be the same story because i live to far away from Millicent SES station the least they could do is allow me to be apart of their second response crew or communications team where at the least i'll be able to use my radio experience
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: Alan (Big Al) on April 15, 2006, 12:58:42 AM
Obviously SAAS vollies in your area don't stay on station while on shift???
I thought that would be a standard thing although alot of vollie stations arent that busy!!
The vollie station at Goolwa is an old police officers house they've got a room each with bed and a kitchen facilities and a lounge with TV DVD AUSTAR, and big recliners, come to think of it they got it damn sweet i think we should all push the CFS for at least the lounge area in our stations :lol: YEAH RIGHT!! But the SAAS Goolwa station does do 700-800 jobs a year so it would be required for them to be on station.

I know that a lot of the Goolwa SAAS members live in Adelaide, Robert you should come and join and do shifts here they even pay a good fuel allowance, it'll only be 5 hours driving each way :wink:
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: rescue5271 on April 15, 2006, 07:54:06 AM
Robert I would follow this up as I am aware of a number of SAAS volunteers who live well out of their area and they still catch the ambulance........
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: medevac on April 15, 2006, 10:14:10 PM
as a vollie, you could live anywhere in whoop whoop and still be able to do it, most vollies that do live too far from station, as stated previously, simply live at the station during the shift...
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: PF_ on April 15, 2006, 11:18:45 PM
Retained MFS have a time limit.  You have to live within 5 minutes to join.
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: Alan (Big Al) on April 15, 2006, 11:34:51 PM
Thats because they can only respomd with that station, if you join and complete your SAAS Ambo Officers course at one station you can then do a shift at any vollie run station in the state!!! You can even if prearranged do a shift as a 3rd/Observer at a paid/paramedic station. It's worth a try if you can get in. :-)
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: PF_ on April 16, 2006, 09:10:06 AM
Oh, thats cool!

What are the pre-requisites?
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: Alan (Big Al) on April 16, 2006, 04:08:06 PM
18yrs of age, full drivers license not a P-plater, pass an interview with the local recruiters and meet a Body Mass Index and general health check. Once in the course normally you have to do weekly training and attend a certain amount of compulsory weekends for training, as well as do i think about 100hrs on "shift" in the ambulance as a 3rd, and then at the end of that you do an evaluation by the local paramedic team leader. The course usually runs for about 6 months depending on how it is run. I believe that you can go on as a third after just a couple of training sessions or be capable of doing basic work....

Some of this info maybe slightly inaccurate but it wouldn't be far off.
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: rescue5271 on April 16, 2006, 06:50:07 PM
Dont't forget the police check :-D
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: PF_ on April 16, 2006, 06:58:15 PM
ah, yeah err police check.....  :mrgreen:
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: strikeathird on April 16, 2006, 09:11:11 PM
woop.. ur out !


:P
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: CFS_Firey on April 17, 2006, 03:02:04 PM
Back to the EMS in Adelaide, I saw a short talk one of their members did on an introduction to the EMS. They are currently housed at "The Elms" at Glenside Hospital. (Co-located with the Lofty Fire Tower CFS brigade I believe)
They Operate solely on donations, which amounts to about $7000 a year (thats to pay for everything - fuel costs, property rental, medication, vehicle replacement etc). 
AFAIK they are the only other registered ambulance service in SA (Other than SAAS). They are responded as others have said, by doctors, hospitals and wellfair centres. (SAAS charge $600? flat rate for treatment).
If I remember rightly, they try to keep a 24 hour service, but lack of volunteers is making it hard / impossible to do that.
There you go...
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: Robert-Robert34 on April 17, 2006, 06:49:33 PM
How did the EMS manage to become a registered Ambulance Service in South Australia if they only rely on donations of medical equipment, fuel,property rent and other necessary equipment

According to their website they dont get funded by the Emergency Services Levy like SAAS,SACFS,SAMFS&SASES so it must be difficult for them to get by on $7000 a year

Then again having EMS is a blessing for poor people who cant afford treatment or transport by SAAS to a hospital being it is $600 for transport to hospital by SA Ambulance
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: PF_ on April 17, 2006, 07:03:54 PM


Then again having EMS is a blessing for poor people who cant afford treatment or transport by SAAS to a hospital being it is $600 for transport to hospital by SA Ambulance
One of the quirky writers in Gawlers "The Bunyip" heard that it cost $634 to transport people to hospital after someone said so and he contacted barossa helicopters to find out how much a helicopter ride of the same time or distance (or something) and it was only $450.  So there ay go folks, if you hurt yourself call Barossa Helicopters.
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: strikeathird on April 18, 2006, 01:01:27 AM
Not a 24 hour service, they have always run shifts, mon - thurs 1800 - 2300.. and Fri - Sun 1700 - 2300...
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: oz fire on April 18, 2006, 09:23:23 AM
They are currently housed at "The Elms" at Glenside Hospital. (Co-located with the Lofty Fire Tower CFS brigade I believe)
:-D :-D :-D
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: riptide on March 24, 2009, 03:32:01 AM
the emt service
is now up the 3 ambos
all old ford longreachs
any1 else got more info
[line removed by mod] ** lets try and avoid a public slander/defamation case. - Thanks.
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: boredmatrix on March 24, 2009, 10:41:28 PM
oh RH you spoilsport!!   :evil:
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: RescueHazmat on March 26, 2009, 09:42:52 AM
Hehe.. - Well, considering his claim was from SAAS, I thought it might be better not to draw the government into this.. :p

But hey, could have been worth a giggle or two! ;)
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: boredmatrix on March 26, 2009, 09:59:01 AM
i take exception to this service - and not because of what they do but rather HOW they do it.

A couple of years ago they got Nick Xenephon involved in a channel 9 story complaining that they get no gov't funding from the ESL - and stated that they provided the same level of service as SAAS!   

Less than a week later i was tasked to assist one of their crews who were having trouble with a patient - and were to RV with them on the roadside!  After their vehicle went the other way at the speed of light before stopping a couple of KM down the road....we were met by a 3 foot high and wide woman who would have been not less than 70 and a scrawny lad who's age was less than the diameter of his dinner platter sized eyes!  The patient was sitting quietly in the back of their van wondering what was going on and while the patient wan't seriously unwell - we took her off their hands for her own safety!

 perception is reality is it not......and if this is my only experience with them.....besides watching them back into a bollard at the RAH.......then I certainly don't have much time for people who purport to  be more than they realistically are and can be......   
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: misterteddy on March 26, 2009, 07:50:41 PM
my experience is a little like BMs

I've been tasked to take over a patient from them.....which was really the best situation for the patient... cos they didnt have much of a clue.

I've also talked to them about equipment as they approached me about buying a substantial amount of gear....dunno where the money came from, but it would of supplied quality training equipment to a number of SAAS Vol stations for the same price..... in the end, they bought second hand gear so who knows where the difference went.

They work in a tough sector, thats not glamorous....but they really arent providing a service befitting 2009 standards...... it's shape up (vehicle, equipment, training, clinical governance) or ship out time
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: jaff on March 26, 2009, 11:13:12 PM
Is it still acceptable for the tradition of having paper streamers stretching out between the wharf and the ship (rusting hulk) as it departs, while everyone yells "bon voyage".......yeh perhaps Bordey and Tedster might be yelling something else! :-D

Better start huntin me down some streamers! 8-)
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: excelcare on February 10, 2010, 07:33:21 AM
been revoked
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: whitecloud on February 10, 2010, 10:16:55 PM
i take exception to this service - and not because of what they do but rather HOW they do it.
...

Less than a week later i was tasked to assist one of their crews who were having trouble with a patient - and were to RV with them on the roadside!  After their vehicle went the other way at the speed of light before stopping a couple of KM down the road....we were met by a 3 foot high and wide woman who would have been not less than 70 and a scrawny lad who's age was less than the diameter of his dinner platter sized eyes!  The patient was sitting quietly in the back of their van wondering what was going on and while the patient wan't seriously unwell - we took her off their hands for her own safety!

 

First part quoted for similar experience, and the fact that they not only seem to carry substandard equipment, but to fairly universally have little idea on what MIGHT be wrong with their patient, and furthermore, what to do about it, without being too specific, there is a significant level of difference in service and indeed, quality of staff.

Second part quoted due to Bordey making another night shift. Thankyou  :mrgreen:
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: excelcare on February 17, 2010, 08:54:24 PM
Back to the EMS in Adelaide, I saw a short talk one of their members did on an introduction to the EMS. They are currently housed at "The Elms" at Glenside Hospital. (Co-located with the Lofty Fire Tower CFS brigade I believe)
They Operate solely on donations, which amounts to about $7000 a year (thats to pay for everything - fuel costs, property rental, medication, vehicle replacement etc).  
AFAIK they are the only other registered ambulance service in SA (Other than SAAS). They are responded as others have said, by doctors, hospitals and wellfair centres. (SAAS charge $600? flat rate for treatment).
If I remember rightly, they try to keep a 24 hour service, but lack of volunteers is making it hard / impossible to do that.
There you go... they have now got rid of the 3 Longreach Ambulances and managed to get funding for 2 ex ASV Volkswagen T5 Transporter ambulances that were only used for driver training in Rural Victoria and a 4wd Mitsubishi Express they intend to use for motocross  :roll:
Title: Re: EMS Ambulance Service in South Australia
Post by: Firefrog on February 18, 2010, 07:49:42 AM
A warning - you are responsible for what you say. If you slander or defame and are sued the site owners will release whatever information they have to identify you. It is very shaky ground to make accusations.