Seaforth residents push for an ambulance station as they endure 45-minute wait times

An elderly Mackay woman spent 45 minutes waiting for an ambulance after falling and smashing her hip. Her case has been highlighted as residents demand better emergency care.

A 77-year-old Seaforth woman spent 45 minutes waiting for an ambulance after falling and smashing her hip, a scenario residents have had to endure “for years”.

By chance, Seaforth Progress Association president Lyn Prince and an off-duty paramedic were nearby and able to help the older woman while she waited for the ambulance to arrive.

Mrs Prince said the lack of access to medical care was the biggest concern for the town which was home to many retirees and young families.

First National Real Estate Mackay agent and proud Seaforth resident Lyn Prince. Picture: Heidi Petith. Tuesday, February 2, 2021.

She said Seaforth depended on paramedics coming in from neighbouring stations, only having an ambulance stationed in town during the Easter and Christmas holidays.

And when an ambulance was called, the winding roads into the coastal town did not make for an easy journey.

“Mt Ossa Road is not sealed so for an ambulance to come down when its been raining, they just can’t get through,” Mrs Prince said.

“Even the road from Mackay into Seaforth, it’s 35 to 45 minutes to get there.”

Mrs Prince said it was particularly concerning with the Seaforth splash pad recreational hub in the works, which was likely to attract more people to the area.

“Our population triples every school holidays,” Mrs Prince said.

In order to push for a more permanent ambulance in the town, Mrs Prince said the community was working together to take a petition to Mackay Regional Council.

“We are keeping a diary on how many ambulances come out here,” she said.

“When we get to a certain level, we can take it to council.”

But in the meantime, Mrs Prince said the community continued to look out for each other.

“We have an ageing community, everyone chips in to make sure they’re okay,” she said.

Mackay District Ambulance Service acting director Tracey Eastwick said while the Queensland Ambulance Service was happy to work with the Seaforth community, it was unlikely there would be a change in ambulance services any time soon.

“We’re quite happy with the current resource model,” Mrs Eastwick said.

“We keep an eye on Seaforth but there is not enough driving demand to warrant a change at this time.”

A four-wheel drive ambulance had been strategically stationed at Calen, with a second one stationed in North Mackay during cyclone season. Picture: Dominic Elsome

Mrs Eastwick said wait times would vary for any region dependant on what other incidents were happening in the area at that time, meaning that 45 minute wait times could occur.

But she said a helicopter to Seaforth was only 10 to 15 minutes away when needed.

In regards to the accessibility of the town by road, Mrs Eastwick said QAS had found “Mt Ossa Road not to be an issue”.

“Even with some of those creeks being tidal and in significant weather events, it's still not too bad,” she said.

But she said a four-wheel drive ambulance had been strategically stationed at Calen, with a second one stationed in North Mackay during cyclone season.

Originally published as Seaforth residents push for an ambulance station as they endure 45-minute wait times