Maclean paramedics Resqmed saving lives Covid testing in ACT

A paramedic service run from its owner’s loungeroom has answered a call for help to join an intense battle to stop Covid spreading in a major city.

A paramedic service run from a small loungeroom in Maclean has been called to the frontline of the Covid-19 battle on the ACT and NSW border.

Resqmed director Adam Jarrett said the use of private paramedic services was crucial in putting people back into the fight against the virus.

Mr Jarrett has been trained as a paramedic since 1999 and worked for NSW Ambulance before he started his business as a private paramedic provider.

“It’s run out of our loungeroom,” he said.

“But I wanted something where we can provided the highest service so our clients have a private ambulance at their beck and call at the same standard of a regular ambulance.”

Director of Resqmed Services paramedic Adam Jarrett and his team have been on the frontline of Covid testing in the ACT and its borders. Photo: Adam Hourigan

His business has expanded to have eight vehicles and more than 50 registered paramedics ready across the state.

While the Sydney Covid spread has garnered much of the attention, an outbreak in the ACT has bloomed to almost 200 positive cases and health authorities reached out to Mr Jarrett to help with mobile testing in the area.

“They made the call and we had crews down there the next day,” he said.

“We did a one week trial and it’s grown into having three double-crewed ambulances there.

Resqmed Service paramedic team members test for Covid in the ACT.

“The concept based on our mobility was to do specific targeted mobile testing for the vulnerable and known positive cases where they have known cases and places are locked down.”

His team was also requested by NSW Health to help on the NSW side of the border at hospital Covid clinics as well as mobile testing.

“We could be doing 15-20 specific house visits each day with three vehicles … and going anywhere like embassies, parliament and members of the community, some who have mobility or disability issues,” Mr Jarrett said.

A Resqmed Service paramedic team hits the road for mobile Covid testing in the ACT.

“The days can be up to 12 hours in full gowns and protective equipment, which is both donned and doffed each time at every location.”

Mr Jarrett said the streets around the capital were almost deserted and they appeared to be taking the lockdown seriously.

“Most people are excellent, though we have done a small portion of home visits where people are frustrated – and we can be accompanied with police and military for compliance” he said.

Mr Jarrett said it was important to see a collaboration of private paramedic services and state-based health care.

Adam Jarrett says his Resqmed Service paramedic team has expanded its fleet to eight vehicles.

“We have clinicians who are trained and registered and they have a workforce consisting of nurses from hospitals who are coming off their ward to do this,” he said.

“We’re here to free up those nurses to go back to the wards where they are needed.

‘There’s also an ongoing fatigue element and if there’s a case and those nurses are close contacts, they’re shut down for two weeks … which will shut down the hospital.”

Resqmed Service paramedic team members test for Covid in the ACT.