New ambulance bus can carry up to 12 patients

AN ambulance bus able to carry and treat 12 patients at a time will join the state’s ambulance fleet in an Australian first.

24.1.2016.Multi-patient ÔAmbusÕ to hit the road.AustraliaÕs first ambulance bus, which can be used to treat 12 patients at a time, has been launched in Adelaide today. Andy Long , Director of operations S.A. ambulance. pic tait schmaal.

AN ambulance bus able to carry and treat 12 patients at a time will join the state’s ambulance fleet in an Australian first.

The 12m bus will be useful at large events and is also expected to be used to transport patients from the current Royal Adelaide Hospital to the new RAH when it opens later this year.

The so-called ‘ambus’ is being unveiled today by Health Minister Jack Snelling.

It can carry six patients on stretchers and another six sitting. There is also room for two clinicians treating patients and a paramedic driver.

“SA Ambulance Service will have more capability than ever to care for sick and injured South

Australians with this revolutionary vehicle,” Mr Snelling said.

Inside the bus, which can treat up to 12 patients at one time.

“It’ll give our hardworking paramedics a critical advantage when attending major incidents resulting in multiple casualties, like bushfires and car crashes.”

SA Ambulance Service director of metropolitan service delivery Andy Long said once all testing was complete, the bus would also be used for jobs outside emergency situations.

“We expect it will be well utilised at large scale events, including next year’s Schoolies Festival,” he said.

“The bus is also set to play a major role transporting patients in the move from the Royal Adelaide Hospital to the new Royal Adelaide Hospital, so the variety of work it can attend really does set it in a class of its own.”