SA Ambulance Service’s $750,000 ‘ambus’ remains a “valuable asset” service officals say

It created a stir when unveiled but the $750,000, 12-patient “ambus” quickly faded from public attention. Despite initial doubts, officials now say it’s a “valuable asset”.

It was labelled a white elephant when first purchased but the SA Ambulance Service’s $750,000 “ambus” continues to pay its way, SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) officials say.

When unveiled in January 2016 by then-health minister Jack Snelling the 12m ambulance bus formally known as AMBus was spruiked as being able to play major roles including transporting patients from the old to the new Royal Adelaide Hospital which opened in 2017.

However, the then state secretary of the Ambulance Employees ­Association Phil Palmer revealed it could not get into the ED areas of major hospitals.

“It’s a white elephant,” he said at the time.

“When the idea first bobbed up we were told it would be used for transporting non-urgent patients between hospitals. It can’t do that because it won’t fit in EDs at places such as FMC, the RAH, the Women’s and Children’s and so on.

“The bottom line is it will not be used on a day-to-day basis and at $750,000 is frankly a waste of money — taxpayers are not getting bang for buck and the government has been sold a pup by managers who are no longer with the SA Ambulance Service.”

However, eight years later SAAS officials say the vehicle which originally had a fit-out to transport six passengers on stretchers and another six sitting remains a “valuable asset”.

Australia’s first ambulance bus was unveiled in 2016. Picture: Tait Schmaal.

It says the AMBus now is designed to transport up to five stretcher patients with the support of a dedicated team of three ambulance officers.

“Its primary role is to facilitate patient discharges from metropolitan hospitals to regional facilities,” a SAAS statement says.

“Additionally, the AMBus plays a crucial role during major incidents, such as the Riverland floods where it was used to move vulnerable patients from the Renmark District Hospital.

SA Ambulance Service AMBus during the Riverland floods. Picture SAAS

SA Ambulance Service AMBus during the Riverland floods.

“The service operates four days a week, with flexibility to extend operations based on demand. During quieter periods, SAAS may opt to use its dual-stretcher ambulance, ensuring both efficiency and cost-effectiveness.”

The AMBus transported 21 patients in June and 24 patients in July, and operational on-road costs to date are about $15k per annum, excluding crewing.

“Its cost-effective nature makes it an ideal choice for regional repatriation, offering significant savings compared to aeromedical transfers and enabling us to manage our resources more effectively,” SAAS says.