INQ140

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).

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

Development of a helipad at Mersey Hospital.

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

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.