Opposition calls for Mid West-based rescue helicopter after report finds fleet should be drastically expanded

A report from WA’s Chief Health Officer has called for a drastic expansion of the State’s emergency rescue helicopter fleet, prompting the Opposition to call for choppers in the Midwest and other regions. The Chief Health Officer’s Inquiry into Aeromedical Services was tabled in State Parliament on Friday and called for a “significant change”, finding there was a lack of coordination throughout the system and more should be done to service regional areas. Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said the State Government was investigating and working to implement the report’s final recommendations. “We can never rest on our laurels when it comes to people’s health and continuous improvement is a key component of our public health system which is why the Government commissioned this inquiry,” Ms Sanderson said. The report recommended the WA’s rotary wing fleet be increased to seven to nine aircraft, stating the State’s rescue helicopter capability was far below that of South Australia and Queensland. WA has two rescue helicopters based in Jandakot and Bunbury. The report suggested it was likely a helicopter in Geraldton would have major benefits, but said more research should be undertaken before the decision was made. ECU researcher David Ford said it was not a surprise the report had found the fleet was undersized. “If you look at WA, we’ve got two dedicated rescue helicopters for a very large landmass, and the most northerly-based dedicated rescue helicopter is in Jandakot Airport,” Mr Ford said. “If you look at Queensland, they have half our size but 10 helicopters, for double the population.” According to research by Mr Ford between 2006 and 2015, mortality rates were 51 per cent higher for regional patients who were transported by ambulance to a country hospital before being transported to Perth, compared to patients who were flown directly to Perth. “The evidence is clear, the key is to try and get those direct helicopter services to more country trauma victims so that they are more likely to survive,” he said. Last month, a rescue helicopter from Jandakot was called to the Mid West to collect a patient who was suffering a medical episode on board the P&O cruise ship Pacific Explorer north-west of Geraldton. The woman, who was in her 80s, was collected from the ship more than five hours after a call for help was issued. Bringing a rescue helicopter to Geraldton was a campaign promise of the Nationals at the 2021 State Election, and Shadow Regional Health Minister Martin Aldridge said the report’s findings were “confronting”. “The report confirmed something the Opposition and the Mid West community have long-called for. There is significant demand for a rescue helicopter in the Mid West,” he said.