Minister reassures on new ambulance station but questions remain
Tuesday, 10 August 2010 11:41
The Minister for Emergency Services has given me a strong written commitment that the construction of a new ambulance station at Pinjarra Hills does not mean the Kenmore ambulance station will be closed.
As soon as the government made the surprise announcement of the new ambulance station I immediately sought reassurance from the Minister that this did not mean that the ambulance station would be moved as the Kenmore fire station was. He has given me the assurance that we will have two ambulance stationsThis however still raises critical questions in the local area as to how the government arrived at a decision to put a new ambulance station at Pinjarra Hills given that it may still have difficulty servicing the large Moggill/Bellbowrie community. Unlike fire engines ambulances are rarely in their station and are generally on the road somewhere between their station and the major city hospitals.
People who have experienced the need of an ambulance in an emergency in our local area often find it comes from places such as inner western Brisbane or the Mt Ommaney area.
I am disappointed that our local community wasn’t consulted and that the government didn’t feel we could be trusted to be part of deliberations as to where the best place for an ambulance station would be.
Readers will be aware of the desperate need for ambulance services given that west of Kenmore residents in an emergency have only had one chance in four that a category 1 ambulance will arrive on time.
I have written to the Minister for Emergency Services requesting an urgent meeting with myself and local councillor Margaret de Wit for some clarification as to how this decision was taken and what it means for the future of ambulance services in our area.