Orange Mayor Reg Kidd has urged the State Government not to ignore the Royal Flying Doctor Service’s 81-year contribution to NSW when a new air ambulance service tender is considered.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) currently holds the contract to provide the NSW Government Air Ambulance Service. The NSW Government has recently called tenders for the provision of the Air Ambulance Service for the next 12 years.
“The Royal Flying Doctor Service has runs on the board and that should count for something. It is a highly professional not for profit organisation. Last year the service attended to close to a quarter of a million patients and evacuated more than 35,000,” Cr Reg Kidd said.
“There is increasing pressure to ensure services like this air ambulance tender are delivered with a strong economic rationale. However, that should not be the only driver. The RFDS has a consistent record and reputation of conforming to contracts without breaches, providing rapid responses and reliable, efficient service for transport of medical patients and professionals.”
Cr Kidd has written to the Acting Minister for Health John Hatzistergos and the Parliamentary Secretary for Health Dr Andrew McDonald raising his concerns.
