Page 183 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 10 February 2010
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in the Northern Territory, where it is transferred to the responding crew. That is a significant difference. What that means is that those jurisdictions start recording response times later, longer after the call has been received; whereas we measure it effectively from the time the call is picked up by the operator.
That, of course, means that there are going to be some differences in our response time. But I think that is the honest way to report it. That is the way the community would expect that it is reported and that is what we will continue to do. But I think it does highlight that often unfair comparisons are made of our response times compared to other jurisdictions, because many of those jurisdictions—indeed, half of them—measure it from a period late in the cycle from call to dispatch compared to what the ACT does.
We will continue to work closely with the Ambulance Service and with the union representing ambulance officers in tackling these issues.
MR SPEAKER: I call Ms Porter to ask a supplementary question.
MS PORTER: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Could the minister please outline some of the achievements of the ACT Ambulance Service?
Mr Hargreaves: Other than saving my life.
MR CORBELL: That is a very important achievement and I know that Mr Hargreaves has a very high regard for the work of our Ambulance Service, as do I. I am pleased that he received quality care when he called on them.
Mr Speaker, the Ambulance Service is continuing to make some real achievements, particularly in the area of training. The training work that we have undertaken is significant. Commencing in 2007, the Ambulance Service achieved alignment of all assessment tools, training guides and student modules to the advanced diploma of paramedical science, ambulance. This qualification, awarded to ACTAS officers that successfully complete a three-year training program to practise as an intensive care paramedic, is recognised by all Australasian ambulance services and places our officers on par at a clinical level with any other service in the country.
We are also unique, as I have already mentioned, Mr Speaker, in that we are the only service that offers the community intensive care at a paramedic level of clinical care on every ambulance. Unlike in other services where some officers are trained to advanced levels but below intensive care, all of our officers are trained to intensive care level. This presents a real challenge because it means that often our officers are poached by other services because we do the investment in the training and they end up getting a good offer somewhere else.
Nevertheless, this requirement is an important one for the ACT Ambulance Service. We will continue to make this investment, as well as making an investment in other areas such as in urban search and rescue, chemical, biological and radiological response, and specialist bariatric, which are all important capabilities for our Ambulance Service if we are to properly serve the community.
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