Yesterday Health Minister Jillian Skinner  announced that Orange and surrounding communities will have access to a round-the-clock aeromedical coverage. 

The recommendations of the independent review highlighted the urgent need for a 24-hour base at Orange and the NSW Government has accepted this recommendation. 

From January 2014, the Orange base will go 24-hours, seven days a week. 

The new arrangements will involve an extra 1.5 doctors’ positions, an extra two paramedics and increases in air crew.

All up, it’s an increased annual investment for Orange of $2.5 million. 

The Ambulance Service of NSW has assured me that the changes for Orange increase the number of paramedics and doctors to allow a true after-hours service without risking availability the next day. 

I’ve spoken with doctors who work on the retrieval service and they are absolutely delighted with yesterday’s announcement. 

The new 24-hour service means that if people across western NSW have an accident or are in need of urgent critical care at any time of the day or night, the ambulance service from Orange can be dispatched by air (or road if weather stops the helicopter flying) to pick them up. 

The number of helicopter types used across NSW is also being reduced to two. 

We won’t know exactly what type Orange will receive until the tender process is complete but I think it is safe to say the days of the small helicopter currently in use for Orange are drawing to a close.

Tenders for new helicopters will go out later this year or early next year. 

Many people have worked for years for this and I’d like to particularly acknowledge my predecessor, Russell Turner, all of the doctors (including Dr John Lambert) and paramedics (such as Nathan Croft) who have supported the cause, as well as Orange City Council and CENTROC. 

It has been a long time coming and a true community effort by the people of the west and I’d like to thank everyone who worked so hard to achieve this result.