18 February 2009

Ambulance deploys more paramedics to Victoria

Minister for Health, John Della Bosca, said the Ambulance Service of NSW was sending additional paramedics to the Victorian fire front.

“Ambulance has been asked by the NSW Rural Fire Service to send extra paramedics to look after the clinical needs of their strike-team,” Mr Della Bosca said.

“We currently have 10 paramedics working alongside the Rural Fire Service who will return to Sydney today (Wednesday), and Ambulance is deploying a further 20 Ambulance Special Operation paramedics.

“Two strike-teams flew to Melbourne yesterday afternoon and they will be dispatched to fire fronts at Healesville in the south and Alexandra in the north.

“A further seven paramedics last night travelled to Albury by road to pick up three paramedics to make up two more strike teams to assist with the ongoing operation.

“So far the NSW Ambulance Special Operations Teams have treated over 40 Rural Fire Service and Country Fire Authority officers on the front lines of the fires since the first teams were deployed,” he said.

The bushfires that have devastated much of Victoria are the worst in Australia’s history with 189 people confirmed dead and over 700 patients treated at Emergency Departments across the state.

150 NSW Police officers were yesterday deployed to assist in Victoria.

“The NSW Government will continue to do everything we can to assist,” Mr Della Bosca said.

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au