INQ140

TitleLong
Tasmanian Medical Retrieval Services External Review
INQAuthor
Dr Peter Sharley OAM
Year
InquiryType
DisasterType
State
Status

Recommendations for this Inquiry

INQ-ref REC-UID CODE SubCode SrcNUM Recommendation
INQ140 REC140-3552 E - Agency Organisation 37 - Funding Recommendation 1

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to fund 3 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Senior Registrar positions at the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH) for the Tasmanian Medical Retrieval Service (TMRS).

INQ140 REC140-3565 F - Research and technology 17 - Assets and technology Recommendation 14

The TMRS medical equipment inventory requires an overhaul. The TMRS medical equipment should be located with the TMRS team.

INQ140 REC140-3566 E - Agency Organisation 12 - EM agency and authority Recommendation 15

Launceston General and Burnie Hospital’s Emergency Departments require sufficient equipment, monitors and human resources to provide occasional safe local retrieval in their region.

INQ140 REC140-3567 E - Agency Organisation 37 - Funding Recommendation 16

A uniform retrieval charge to the region of referral should be considered. This should be independent of the mode of transport used.

INQ140 REC140-3568 E - Agency Organisation 37 - Funding Recommendation 17

The State Medical Retrieval Cost Centre (TMRS and NETS) be formed and be supported by the appropriate administrative and resource accountant expertise. This cost centre should be placed with those responsible for its management.

INQ140 REC140-3569 E - Agency Organisation 12 - EM agency and authority Recommendation 18

A senior Tasmanian NETS representative be confirmed on the Tasmanian Medical Retrieval Services Committee.

INQ140 REC140-3570 E - Agency Organisation 12 - EM agency and authority Recommendation 19

The fragmentation and duplication of fixed wing and helicopter clinical coordination should be eliminated through centralisation to TAS Communications.

INQ140 REC140-3571 E - Agency Organisation 12 - EM agency and authority Recommendation 20

A senior, experienced, clinically trained ambulance officer to be based in TAS Communications in Hobart for at least 14 hours a day.

INQ140 REC140-3572 E - Agency Organisation 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform Recommendation 21

A DHHS website be developed to list policies, procedures and guidelines relevant to critical care retrieval including the NETS policies.

INQ140 REC140-3573 F - Research and technology 13 - Mapping and data quality Recommendation 22

Databases with a common minimum data set complete with incident monitoring should be established for TAS Air Ambulance, TMRS and NETS missions.

INQ140 REC140-3574 A - Responsibility 38 - Agency/Department Reporting Recommendation 23

Formation of a subcommittee of the DHHS Tasmanian Medical Retrieval Services Committee to identify risk exposures, system problems and potential solutions. The subcommittee should review data, problem cases, system issues and generate a risk register. Meetings should occur at least quarterly.

INQ140 REC140-3564 F - Research and technology 17 - Assets and technology Recommendation 13

The medical equipment used in retrieval and air ambulance duties undertaken by helicopter and fixed wing must be standardised.

INQ140 REC140-3563 F - Research and technology 17 - Assets and technology Recommendation 12

An additional secure emergency oxygen supply source to be located in the BK 117 helicopter. An internal supply is preferred.

INQ140 REC140-3553 E - Agency Organisation 37 - Funding Recommendation 2

RHH Neonatal Emergency Transport Service receive DHHS funding for a Senior Registrar to assume the responsibilities of retrieval staffing, quality assurance, data collection and reporting demands.
(1 FTE new)

INQ140 REC140-3554 E - Agency Organisation 37 - Funding Recommendation 3

DHHS fund the equivalent of 2 FTE Consultant positions for retrieval duties (1.5 FTE existing, 0.5 FTE new)

INQ140 REC140-3555 E - Agency Organisation 16 - Training and behaviour Recommendation 4

The Tasmanian Ambulance Service Clinical Advisory Committee review helicopter and fixed wing Flight Paramedic training and consider extending the scope of practice to embrace the role of retrieval paramedic in the Doctor/Paramedic retrieval team setting.

INQ140 REC140-3556 F - Research and technology 17 - Assets and technology Recommendation 5

The use of hospital transport vehicles to support retrieval operations be investigated.

INQ140 REC140-3557 E - Agency Organisation 12 - EM agency and authority Recommendation 6

Royal Flying Doctor Service fixed wing to remain in Launceston for the duration of the current contract.

INQ140 REC140-3558 D - Recovery 6 - Insurance and legal liability Recommendation 7

DHHS need to confirm adequate accident insurance coverage for staff working in retrieval medicine. Coverage specific to helicopter and fixed wing duties is required.

INQ140 REC140-3559 F - Research and technology 17 - Assets and technology Recommendation 8

A service level agreement is negotiated with the Police department that will cover access, tasking, price, equipment and staffing. This will enable a more strategic use of the helicopter.

INQ140 REC140-3560 F - Research and technology 17 - Assets and technology Recommendation 9

RHH requires a helipad. Plans to rebuild RHH must include a helipad at its earliest stage of conception.

INQ140 REC140-3561 F - Research and technology 17 - Assets and technology Recommendation 10

Development of a helipad at Mersey Hospital.

INQ140 REC140-3562 E - Agency Organisation 12 - EM agency and authority Recommendation 11

A rapidly responsive helicopter and road retrieval capability to be developed out of RHH.

INQ140 REC140-3575 A - Responsibility 24 - Govt responsibility Recommendation 24

The preferred model for the Tasmanian Medical Retrieval Services is to have TMRS and NETS staff based in RHH. The fixed wing would remain based in Launceston (for the present) with the helicopter to remain based in Hobart.