Legislative Council, Wednesday 9 November 2022

Ms FORREST question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT

With regard to ambulance services on King Island and the lack of dedicated ambulance facilities, to the point that volunteers are required to use a port-a-loo at the rear of the Police Station where they have been based and do not have access to a facility to undertake training and/or debriefing after a critical incident:

1. Does the Premier consider it appropriate that our dedicated volunteer ambulance officers utilise such inadequate facilities, including a port-a-loo rather than and proper toilet and bathroom; and
a. if so, how are the volunteer ambulance officers, in these circumstances, expected to maintain adequate levels of infection control?

2. Will the Premier consider a dedicated ambulance facility to house the two ambulances, provide reasonable facilities such as toilet and kitchen facilities and a room for training and de-briefing, which is essential in a small population for volunteer first responders;

a. If so, when will this dedicate facility be progressed; and

b. If not, why not?

Answers:

1 Emergency ambulance services on King Island are currently provided by a group of dedicated and valued Volunteer Ambulance Officers.

Until recently the volunteers have occupied a room in the Tasmania Police Station at Currie, but recent changes have required return of the space.

The volunteers do have access to all facilities at the King Island Hospital and Health Centre. The facilities include access to a training room and appropriate bathrooms and toilets. The King Island Hospital is approximately a two minute drive from the police station.

The ambulance vehicles are still housed in the Tasmania Police Station garage and without access to the police station amenities, I am advised a commercial port-a-loo has been temporarily located on the site for the volunteers in case it is required.

Due to the nature of emergency ambulance services work, appropriate provisions are made within the ambulance vehicle to ensure infection control requirements are met as they are mobile. The King Island Hospital and Health Centre provides sufficient handwashing facilities to support appropriate hand hygiene, to meet infection control standards.

2 Ambulance Tasmania has been searching for an appropriate facility to house Ambulance Tasmania in Currie, but there are no available properties/residences. As such, Ambulance Tasmania is working with the Tasmania Health Service facility at Currie to appropriately meet training and housing requirements as a priority.

Ambulance Tasmania are also conducting a review of service demand across the State the outcomes of which will help inform future infrastructure requirements.