Queensland Ambulance Service Aligns with Queensland Health

As of today, Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) will allign with Queensland Health, following recommendations handed down in the Keelty Review.

Queensland Health Minister Lawrence Springborg said around 85 per cent of all QAS tasks are directly linked with Queensland Health so it makes sense that they work more closely.

“We have already aligned QAS regions to Queensland Health hospital and health service boundaries which has yielded some great results. “Ambulance turnaround times in south east Queensland have been cut by around 12 minutes and Code 1 emergency response times are also down.”

“The fact is, reports dating back to 2007 recommended realigning QAS with Queensland Health,” he said.

“This next step will further improve health services and build on the excellent work delivered by our frontline workers.”

QAS Commissioner Russell Bowles said the move to Queensland Health would bring QAS into line with other ambulance services around Australia.

“It also gives the QAS a tremendous opportunity to build on an already excellent service which is highly valued by the Queensland community,” Mr Bowles said. “The merger recognises that Queensland Health and QAS have worked together as partners for a long time to identify a range of initiatives to reduce ambulance ramping and improve access to timely emergency care. “The opportunities that exist in a change like this should not be understated, especially in respect to further enhancement of clinical procedures for paramedics, and access to patient information to understand the effect of pre-hospital care on patient outcomes.”