MEDSTAR

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (15:33): Recently I had the opportunity to see inside the operational base of MedSTAR, which is the South Australian Ambulance Service's (SAAS) unique emergency medical retrieval division. MedSTAR provides South Australians with the highest level of emergency medical patient care, treatment and transportation from any location in the state to the most appropriate medical facility.

MedSTAR was launched in March 2009 to bring together 30 years of critical care, neonatal, paediatric and adult medical retrieval operations in South Australia. This consolidation of services provides a team of specialist doctors, nurses and paramedics based at Adelaide Airport, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In July 2010 MedSTAR became a specialist division within the SAAS structure, and retrieved almost 2,500 people within South Australia last year alone.

MedSTAR operates retrieval services using four main modes of transport: rapid response vehicles, road ambulance transport, helicopters and fixed wing planes. MedSTAR has a minimum of two general retrieval teams for adults and two MedSTAR Kids retrieval teams on call 24/7. In addition to the retrievals, MedSTAR also offers support to South Australian health practitioners through clinical advice for medical and surgical emergencies, as well as disaster preparedness and response anywhere in South Australia.

Under SAAS governance, MedSTAR has access to vehicles within the service's fleet as well as aircraft from the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), Australian Helicopters and other commercial airlines. Within the resources accessible to MedSTAR, they are able to provide speedy transport services for critical patients and respond to medical and surgical emergencies anywhere in the state. In 2011, MedSTAR used air transport in 55 per cent of retrieval cases which was an increase of 4 per cent from the previous year. Of these air retrievals, helicopters accounted for 45 per cent, RFDS fixed wing planes for 49 per cent, and chartered and commercial jets for 3 per cent each.

MedSTAR Kids was introduced to the service in April 2010 and provides emergency response for critically ill children and neonates. In 2012 SAAS funded a new MedSTAR Kids ambulance which has the capacity to carry up to five passengers and has a modern child-friendly design to provide improved levels of comfort for children and babies.

In 2010 MedSTAR opened their training facility. The facility is located in a hangar at Adelaide Airport and is equipped with training modules to recreate the many different scenarios and situations that the medical team might encounter. The facility also allows staff to train and gain accreditation in the equipment they will use out on the job.

The provision of MedSTAR services is coordinated by a team of highly qualified senior doctors, medical retrieval consultants and retrieval nurse coordinators co-located within the SAAS Emergency Operations Centre. The co-location of MedSTAR and SAAS clinical coordination has for the first time in South Australia ensured that all patient movements and all aeromedical resources are utilised in an efficient and effective manner, ensuring the right resource for the right patient at the right time.

MedSTAR retrieved nearly 2,500 critically ill and injured South Australians in 2011—a small increase on the year before. Sixty-five per cent of retrievals were for adults and the remaining 35 per cent were for children under the age of 16 who were transported through MedSTAR Kids. However, patients aged over 50 years represent the largest proportion of the MedSTAR general service workload.

Identifiable by their bright red uniforms, in contrast to the standard SAAS green uniforms, and the red and white helicopters they sometimes arrive in, the men and women who work for MedSTAR help save the lives of hundreds of South Australians every year. They provide a valuable service that is of great need to our state. I thank MedSTAR for the opportunity to learn about the valuable services they provide to the South Australian community.

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