**Grabs from Minister Park: HERE**
NSW Ambulance is increasing its 4WD ambulance capability in the New England region, allowing paramedics to more easily access and transport patients in challenging terrains.
A new 4WD ambulance, to be located at Tenterfield Ambulance Station, will further enhance paramedic’s ability to reach patients in areas which are inaccessible to standard ambulances.
The new Toyota Landcruiser 300 Series has been modified to include a stretcher for transporting patients as well as medical equipment.
The upgraded 4WD ambulance could be used to treat and retrieve patients from bushland across the New England region and deliver them to a Mercedes stretchered ambulance for further transport to hospital.
The 4WD ambulance joins NSW Ambulance’s specialist fleet of nine 4WD vehicles already in the New England zone as well as the main fleet of Mercedes stretchered ambulances.
When paramedics identify locations where they are unable to reach the patient due to an inaccessible road, they advise the NSW Ambulance Control Centre who can then dispatch the closest available 4WD resource.
The community is also serviced by NSW Ambulance’s world first Hazardous Area Rescue Ambulances (HARAs), which are designed to withstand harsh conditions, as well as its aeromedical network of 12 helicopters. These helicopters are staffed with a highly trained medical team, including a critical care doctor and a critical care paramedic with the ability to land on, or winch into, otherwise inaccessible areas across the state.
Similar to the 4WDs, the NSW Ambulance aeromedical helicopter fleet and HARAs are frequently deployed across NSW to ensure safe, quality care where required in hazardous terrain.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:
“This new 4WD ambulance will provide significant support for communities across the New England region, ensuring paramedics can reach patients quickly and safely, in particularly remote or challenging the conditions.
“The Minns Labor Government is committed to ensuring people in regional and rural NSW have access to the same high‑quality emergency care as those in metropolitan areas.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin:
“I am super excited as I have been backing the Tenterfield community to have their own 4WD Ambulance for some time.
“On behalf of the entire community, and I know that Mayor Bronwyn Petrie backs this, I extend a big thank you to Minister Ryan Park, who knew how needed this was.
“I also acknowledge the expertise and dedication of local paramedics, who will be better equipped to do their life-saving work.”
Quotes attributable to NSW Ambulance Interim Chief Executive Clare Beech:
“This new Toyota Landcruiser 300 Series 4WD will further enhance our paramedics ability to safely access, treat and transport patients across the New England zone, particularly in bushland and remote areas.
“NSW Ambulance is able to fluidly deploy specialist resources when and where they are needed most, whether a patient is located in the bush or in a hard-to-reach location, our clinicians are able to access patients by land, water and air to treat, extricate and transport.”
