KATTER'S Australian Party MP Nick Dametto has asked why a 90km stretch of the Bruce Highway in his electorate centering on the township of Rollingstone does not have an ambulance station.
Health Minister Steven Miles said the Queensland Ambulance Service determined where to locate its stations, based on things like demand and population.
“This is the kind of question that comes up often as members seek to have ambulance stations located within townships in their electorate,” he said.
“Ambulances are allocated based on triage category as well as the closest located vehicle.
“They don’t sit and wait at ambulance stations to be deployed, they are by and large in the field.
“In most cases, the station is the location where they pick up the vehicle from and do their shift changes.”
He said he could organize for Mr Dametto to sit down with the Ambulance Commissioner to look at the data for Rollingstone – situated between Townsville and Ingham – and give the response times to that township and nearby areas.
“The Queensland Ambulance Service determines where to locate new stations based on demand, based on population,” he said.
“I am always willing for the ambulance service to discuss with any member of this place what that data looks like for townships within their electorate.”
– Jessica Marszalek
