Queensland Ambulance Service

The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) is the state emergency ambulance and patient transport provider in Queensland, Australia. QAS is part of the Queensland Government under the Queensland Health portfolio and is one of the largest ambulance services in the world.[1]

"QAS" redirects here. For other uses, see QAS (disambiguation).

Queensland Ambulance Service
Agency overview
Formed1 July 1911 (1911-07-01)
Preceding agencies
  • City Ambulance Transport Brigade
  • Queensland Ambulance Service Transport Brigades
JurisdictionQueensland Government
Employees4500
Agency executives
  • Russell Bowles, Commissioner
  • Craig Emery, Deputy Commissioner
  • Michael Metcalfe, Deputy Commissioner
  • Dee Taylor-Dutton, Deputy Commissioner
Parent departmentQueensland Health
Websiteambulance.qld.gov.au

QAS provides emergency response services, pre-hospital patient care, specialised transport services, coordination of aero-medical services and inter-hospital transfers to all of Queensland, accounting around 4.7 million people spread over 1,727,000 km2 (667,000 sq mi).[2][3][4]

Over 4500 FTE staff are employed by QAS, around 87% of whom are front-line staff. QAS operates out of 290 response locations across the state, and handled over 946,000 cases and 737,803 triple zero calls in 2015/16.[5]

History
The QATB Hospital, ca. 1915

Ambulance services in Queensland first began in 1892. Military medic Seymour Warrian held the first meeting of the City Ambulance Transport Brigade on 12 September of that year. Queensland's first ambulance station operated out of the Brisbane Newspaper Company building; the first officers possessed a stretcher, but no vehicle, and so transported patients on foot.[6] A year after the establishment of the Brisbane centre, another was established in Charters Towers in north Queensland, eventually growing to over 90 community controlled ambulance centres.

The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) as currently known was formed on 1 July 1991 from the amalgamation of 96 individual Queensland ambulance service transport brigades (QATB). While QAS originally operated under the banner of the Department of Emergency Services, in 2009 the Queensland Government restructured the organisational hierarchy and appointed new ministers. It became part of the Department of Community Safety, along with the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, Emergency Management Queensland and Department of Corrective Services.[6] As a result of the Keelty Review of Police and Community Safety in Queensland, the QAS transitioned into the Queensland Department of Health as of 1 October 2013, retaining its separate identity, rank structure and commissioner.

Structure and operations

Support

The QAS was initially divided into six operational regions across Queensland, until the Northern Region was split to form 'Far Northern Region'. This model reflected a similar structure in the then Queensland Fire and Rescue Authority. In 2012, the QAS Structural Reform Report, a comprehensive review of QAS operations, lead to a restructure of operations, and a decentralisation of control to local networks.[7] Instead of large regions, the service would be divided into fifteen geographical local ambulance service networks (LASNs) aligning with Queensland health and hospital service networks.[8] A sixteenth network was established as state operations centres, with the existing seven communications centres to become operations centres, reporting directly to a central assistant commissioner. The LASNs vary in size according to population and stations, and are categorised from Category 1 (largest) to Category 5 (smallest). The categorisation simply reflects their size and gives a foundation for staffing allocation and command structure.

Local ambulance service networks

Category 1 (General Manager – Assistant Commissioner)

  • Metro North
  • Metro South

Category 2 (General Manager – Assistant Commissioner)

  • Cairns
  • Darling Downs
  • Gold Coast
  • Sunshine Coast
  • Townsville

Category 3 (Director – Chief Superintendent)

  • Central Queensland

Category 4 (Director – Chief Superintendent)

  • Mackay
  • West Moreton
  • Wide Bay

Category 5 (Executive Manager – Superintendent)

  • Cape York and Torres Strait
  • Central West
  • North West
  • South West

State Operations– Assistant Commissioner

  • Seven Operations Centres (Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, Maroochydore, Toowoomba, Brisbane, Southport)

Headquarters

There are five key central office commands that divisions report to:

  • Office of the Commissioner
  • Office of the Deputy Commissioner State LASN Operations
  • Office of the Deputy Commissioner Service Planning and Performance
  • Office of the Deputy Commissioner Corporate Services
  • Office of the Medical Director

These commands, plus some additional senior staff, form the Central Office Senior Executive (COSE), which in turn report to the QAS Board of Management (BoM).

Clinical operations

Following a redesign in 2014, the overall clinical governance of the service is ensured by the director of clinical quality and patient safety, currently filled by Chief Superintendent Tony Hucker ASM. The office ensures that patient care services provided by officers of the Queensland Ambulance Service are delivered at a consistently high standard, and that current clinical research is included within contemporary practice. The office also responsible for QAS Policy on Staff Health and Wellbeing and setting medical priorities for ambulance resource dispatch. There are a small number of medical officers, with the team lead by Medical Director Dr Stephen Rashford ASM FACEM, who also holds the rank of deputy commissioner.

Ambulance operations of the Queensland Ambulance Service are performed predominantly by its own operational staff. QAS operational staff include student paramedics, advanced care paramedics (ACPs), critical care paramedics (formally known as intensive care paramedics), patient transport officers (PTOs) and emergency medical dispatchers (EMDs).[1] In some of Queensland's rural areas, QAS first responders provide emergency care until the arrival of paramedics, while in remote areas first responders may also work as volunteer drivers or operate ground transport vehicles (such as the Torres Strait). In some areas, non-QAS staff operate the QAS ambulances as unpaid volunteers, or as QHealth nurses as part of a hospital-based ambulance station, for example in Morven and Thargomindah.

Advanced care paramedics possess either a Diploma of Paramedical Science (Ambulance), a Bachelor of Paramedical Science, or equivalent qualifications.[9] In addition to this, critical care paramedics possess a graduate diploma in intensive care paramedic practice, or very commonly a master's degree in emergency health.[10] ACPs and CCPs attend medical, surgical and trauma emergencies. Patient transport officers possess a Certificate III in non-emergency patient transport or equivalent, and provide non-emergency patient transport services.[11] Emergency medical dispatchers have completed a Certificate III in ambulance communications (call taking) and a Certificate IV in ambulance communications (dispatch) or equivalent. EMDs receive emergency calls and direct ambulance services to the emergency, and advise callers in performing first aid until the ambulance arrives on scene.[12]

ACPs are competent in many emergency medical skills, including airway management (oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal airway, oropharyngeal suctioning, laryngoscopy and Magill's forceps, laryngeal mask airway, intermittent positive pressure ventilation), cardiac management (cardiac monitoring – basic ECG interpretation and 12-lead ECG, manual defibrillation), drug/fluid administration (intramuscular injection, intravenous cannulation, fluid replacement), and the administration of basic and advanced drugs (aspirin, glucose, glyceryl trinitrate, adrenaline, morphine, fentanyl, etc.).[9][13]

Critical (intensive) care paramedics typically respond when an advanced level of clinical practice is required. In some areas, they will respond as a single officer in units known as 'pods'. CCP pods operate around the state, focused on metropolitan, major regional centers, or where a rescue helicopter is located. These ambulances are not equipped to transport patients, but contain much of the same equipment as a regular ambulance, as well as advanced equipment. CCPs are competent in all ACP procedures, as well as advanced emergency medical skills, such as endotracheal intubation, synchronised cardioversion, transcutaneous cardiac pacing, continuous positive airway pressure ventilation CPAP, decompression of tension pneumothorax, extra-jugular venous cannulation, procedural sedation (midazolam, ketamine, and droperidol.), pre-hospital thrombolysis (tenecteplase), pre-hospital direct referral to primary PCI, intraosseous access, as well as the administration of advanced drugs (atropine, heparin, ketamine, benztropine, magnesium, etc.). In addition to standard CCP skills, officers on the High Acute Response Unit (HARU) perform general anaesthesia via Rapid Sequence Induction, with the additional use of rocuronium and propofol, transfuse packed red blood cells, perform chest thoracostomy, and carry some additional pharmacology specific to major trauma such as TxA. As of 2018, there are HARU units located at Brisbane and the Gold Coast [10][13]

Vehicles
A QAS ambulance

The most common metropolitan ambulance is the Mercedes Sprinters with the new livery (see image), which is intended to allow for a uniform vehicle across Australia. In rural areas, due to the need for extra traction or rough roads, 4x4 vehicles are common, based upon a Toyota Landcruiser Cab Chassis (1+1 modular 4x4s) or Toyota Landcruiser Troopcarrier. Both 4x4s carry one stretcher patient in addition to the normal equipment found on a typical Mercedes Sprinter. These vehicles (Mercedes Sprinters) are used by both advanced care paramedics (ACPs) and patient transport officers. The acute vehicles carry one (1) stretcher and the patient transport vehicles Mercedes Sprinters carry two (2). Toyota Hiace PTO vehicles with twin stretchers are also in use around the State, along with a variety of other transport vehicles including wheel-chair vehicles. Additionally, two stretcher Mercedes 519 acute ambulances operate around the state by ACP and CCPs, particularly in regional and rural areas.

Bariatric Ambulance

Critical care paramedics (formally known as ICPs) often drive 'pods', as well as LARU (local area assessment and referral unit[14]) and stations OIC's now often drive Hyundai Santa Fe's (formally using Subaru Foresters). These vehicles cannot carry patients, however they carry much of the same equipment as the Sprinters, as well as specialised equipment, with their sole purpose serving as fast response vehicles.

A station's officer in charge (OIC) or area supervisors often use dual-cab Utes, serving a similar purpose to other fast response vehicles.

Previously, the QAS used Ford F-series truck (Ford F-250 and F-350) until Ford stopped importing these in 2008. These are still in use in some rural areas, however are not common in the Metropolitan areas.

Aeromedical services

Aeromedical services around Queensland are provided by the Royal Flying Doctor Service in conjunction with the Queensland Ambulance Service.

Helicopter operations

Helicopter retrieval incorporates both pre-hospital rescue and interhospital transfer services across Queensland and has done so since 1979. Queensland Health contracts six medical rescue providers to provide emergency air rescue and air transfer services. Each contractor is designated a region of Queensland and has the option of providing more than one helicopter to their region.

Each helicopter is typically staffed with:

  • 1 × pilot
  • 1 × aircrewman
  • 1 × rescue crewman (rescue swimmer)
  • 1 × QAS critical care paramedic
  • 1 × Queensland Health Department-contracted doctor

(Crew mix can vary from base to base and between differing tasks such as SAR, neonatal transfer, doctor/nurse model on IFT helicopter, etc.). Helicopters staffed with both a QAS Critical Care Paramedic AND Flight Doctor also have the option to respond to incidents via road in the CCP's response vehicle if necessary.

Helicopters operate from Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns (Rescue 500, 521, 510 (3 AW139's and 2 Bell 412's which are provided by Air Services Public Safety Business Agency (Queensland Government Air Rescue QGAir while a contracted government rescue helicopter operates from Thursday Island (Rescue 700) called Torres Strait & NPA Rescue (Bell 412). The remainder of the helicopter rescue services are divided into Community Rescue Services (a contract between the community and PSBA), and independent/commercial models that provide part (Roma) community hours in addition to their commercial obligations, or complete community hours (Mt ISA).

A QAS ambulance, in original livery.

RACQ is a major sponsor of helicopter rescue in Queensland, continuing as the major naming sponsor of RACQ CQ Rescue out of Mackay (Rescue 422 and Rescue 412, 2 Bell 412's) and RACQ Capricorn Helicopter Rescue out of Rockhampton (Rescue 300 Bell 412).[15]

RACQ LifeFlight operates community helicopter rescue services at:

LifeFlight also operates commercial contract helicopters at Surat Gas Aero-Medical Service out of Roma and Toowoomba, which can be tasked to provide community assistance if available. LifeFlight also has an inter-facility (hospital transfer) AW139 based at Archerfield that is primarily for the transfer of critically ill patients between hospitals in Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales.

Additionally LifeFlight provide doctors for all rescue helicopters, and most RFDS planes (except Mount Isa).

Funding

From 2003, the service was funded by the Community Ambulance Cover scheme, a levy added to all customers of electricity retailers in Queensland.

In 2009, the amount payable was a flat fee just above $100 annually. This amount and collection method is designed to provide a reliable flow of income to the service.[16]

On 1 July 2011, the levy was abolished, with funding now directly provided by the Queensland Government.

Ranks

The ranks feature from lowest to highest.

Support
  • Patient transport officer – One silver bar over 'PTO'
  • Emergency medical dispatcher – One silver lightning bolt with the words Ambulance Communications
  • Senior emergency medical dispatcher – One silver lightning bolt with the words Senior Ambulance Communications

Paramedic
  • Paramedic – Silver Caduceus
  • Graduate advanced care paramedic – Red Caduceus.
  • Advanced care paramedic level one – Red Caduceus over one red bar.
  • Advanced care paramedic level two – Red Caduceus over two red bars.
  • Senior advanced care paramedic – Red Caduceus over the words ‘Senior Paramedic’
  • Critical care paramedic – One gold Caduceus (formerly intensive care paramedic)
  • Senior critical care paramedic – One gold Caduceus with the words ‘Senior Paramedic’ (formerly intensive care paramedic)

Classified officers
  • Supervisors – Two pips; they act as: officer-in-charge, clinical educator, clinical support officer, and operations centre supervisor.
  • Team leader – Inspector – Three pips; they act as: senior operations supervisor, clinical deployment supervisor, senior educator and some specialist roles.
  • Chief Inspector – A single crown; they act as; LASN clinical managers; workforce planning managers.
  • Superintendent – One pip under a single crown; they act as: executive managers (e.g. LASN managers of small LASNs), executive manager- operations
  • Chief superintendent – Two pips under a single crown; they act as: directors (e.g. managers of mid-sized LASNs) and directors- operations
  • Assistant Commissioner – Caduceus surrounded by a gold wreath with a red background; they act as: general managers and key executive positions.
  • Deputy Commissioner – Caduceus surrounded by a gold wreath with a red background under a single gold pip. They act as: executive directors, and the rank of the medical director.
  • Commissioner – Caduceus surrounded by a gold wreath with a red background under a single gold crown
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See also

References
  1. About QAS Archived 6 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Department of Community Safety. Retrieved on 9 November 2011.
  2. "Queensland". ABS 2016 Census QuickStats. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  3. "Interesting facts about Queensland". Queensland Government. 7 December 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  4. Queensland Ambulance Service performance report 2009 Archived 20 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Department of Emergency Services. Retrieved on 9 November 2011.
  5. "Public Performance Indicators financial year ending June 2016" (PDF). Queensland Ambulance Service. Queensland Ambulance Service. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  6. Queensland Ambulance Service History and Heritage Archived 1 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Department of Community Safety. Retrieved on 9 November 2011.
  7. QAS Structural Reform Report. Department of Community Safety. 2012.
  8. "QAS LASN Structure".
  9. Paramedic 3 Archived 4 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Department of Community Safety. Retrieved on 9 November 2011.
  10. Paramedic 4 (Intensive Care) Archived 4 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Department of Community Safety. Retrieved on 9 November 2011.
  11. Patient Transport Officer Archived 4 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Department of Community Safety. Retrieved on 9 November 2011.
  12. Qualified Emergency Medical Dispatcher (Level 3) Archived 4 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Department of Community Safety. Retrieved on 9 November 2011.
  13. http://www.ambulance.qld.gov.au/medical/pdf/scope%20of%20practice.pdf Archived 4 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  14. "QAS Insight Magazine – Autumn 2017 edition".
  15. "Who is PSBA?" (PDF).
  16. The Community Ambulance Cover scheme Archived 7 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Queensland Treasury. Retrieved on 9 November 2011.

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