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The official newsletter of the Royal Flying Doctor Service WESTERN AUSTRALIA • SEPTEMBER 2015 IN THIS ISSUE > > 2014/15 Year in Review > Derby Base Diamond Jubilee Ball > A New Era of Aircraft > Aero Medical & Aviation Training Centre of Excellence A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO > 2014/15 YEAR IN REVIEW > Dear Supporters THE RFDS IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA PROVIDES THE FINEST CARE TO THE 2015 marks the 80th year of the RFDS providing aero medical and primary FURTHEST CORNER, PROVIDING AERO MEDICAL AND PRIMARY HEALTH health care services in Western Australia, where the need and patient demand CARE TO THOSE IN NEED ACROSS 2.5M SQUARE KILOMETRES. for our assistance continues to grow, and our footprint is evolving to match. In the past 12 months, we’ve flown 9,132 sick and injured patients to hospitals OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS, THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS FLOWN around the state and received 41,200 telephone calls for medical assistance INCREASED BY 3%. and advice. Our pilots made almost 18,823 landings around WA, and flew over eight million kilometres across our vast state. Recently we held our annual fundraising ball at Crown Perth. The prestigious RFDS Western Australia Altitude Ball, black tie ball was a glamorous evening of fine-dining and world Key Highlights 2014/15 class entertainment from the likes of Jessica Mauboy. Altitude 2015 sold 80 years out in record time, and the 760 attendees experienced a memorable night, of operating in Western Australia raising a considerable amount for the RFDS through the various raffles and 18,583 Assisted people attended auctions. Altitude 2015 was an astounding event and we’re grateful to all who 27,715 clinics supported us on the evening. patients 8,006,000 kilometres Whilst we reflect on our past 80 years here in WA, we’re looking evermore flown to the future and how we can build a sustainable future for the RFDS over the next 80 years and beyond. Whilst our new base is being constructed in Broome, the Jandakot Base hangar is set to undergo a development to accommodate the revolutionary Pilatus PC-24 long range jet aircraft which are due to arrive from 2017. Alongside the hangar expansion, the Aero Medical and Aviation Training Centre of Excellence will be developed, as well as a state of the art state-wide Coordination Centre. You can read all about these exciting developments and more inside. We are very excited to see the evolution of the RFDS in WA to meet the needs and demands of our patients and thank you for your ongoing support and Transported Conducted continued commitment to our Royal Flying Doctor Service. 9,132 1,958 patients clinics Grahame Marshall 41,200 Chief Executive Officer telehealth Royal Flying Doctor Service, Western Australia calls RFDS ESPERANCE AUXILIARY PROFILE > CONTACT DETAILS In this issue, we profile the RFDS barbecues, sausage sizzles and patients. We are told that the Flying The Flying Doctor Newsletter is published by the Marketing and Communications Esperance Auxiliary, a dedicated open gardens, and raffles. Doctor’s presence is felt greatly in department of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Western Australia. group of 23 individuals, led by the regional town, with around half President Helen Scott. “We are just a bunch of passionate of the community having personally country folk who want to do good in relied on the service. Business contact details Website Our Doc Shop carries a range of Since its inception in 1998, the our community and ensure we play RFDS Esperance Auxiliary has our part in the RFDS continuing to Nick Harvey, General Manager of TEL (08) 9417 6400 flyingdoctor.org.au official RFDS merchandise. raised $927,000 for the RFDS here do the great job it does,” says Helen. Marketing and Communications for flyingdoctor.org.au/shop FAX (08) 9417 6499 Medical Emergencies only in Western Australia. The committee the RFDS in WA, says “We are very This year alone, the RFDS Esperance EMAIL [email protected] 1800 625 800 Kalgoorlie Visitor Centre and countless volunteers run a grateful for the RFDS Esperance number of fundraising activities Auxiliary have already raised $80,000 Auxiliary, who not only raise critical (08) 9093 7595 of much needed funds to support Follow us on throughout the year in Esperance funds for the RFDS, but importantly, and its surrounds, ranging from the Flying Doctor – who on average, represent us as ambassadors in their firewood cutting, private donations, flies in to Esperance four times a community.” displaying donation tins, hosting week to transport sick and injured 2 FLYING DOCTOR NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2015 > DONATE ONLINE - FLYINGDOCTOR.ORG.AU 3 DERBY BASE DIAMOND DERBY REDEVELOPMENT TOOL CONTROL TECHNOLOGY INTRODUCED Redevelopment of the Derby JUBILEE BALL > base brings all administrative and Safety is paramount when networked tool storage with This innovative addition to the RFDS operational staff together into one it comes to maintaining and inventory management software to increases aviation safety for patients facility to provide better efficiency operating RFDS aircraft. The reduce the risk of hand tools being and staff. 2015 has been a year of celebrations for the RFDS here in WA. In addition and overall outcomes for patients RFDS has introduced state of left in aircraft. to our 80th Anniversary, our Derby base is also celebrating their 60th and staff. the art technology to align with Anniversary! To mark this special milestone, our Derby base created a industry best practice. The robust system is installed with unique event to mark their Diamond Jubilee! The redevelopment at the Derby user identification technology and a Airport has a purpose built patient Thanks to a partnership with camera to capture the contents of On Saturday, 22nd August the Derby hangar came alive for the Diamond Jubilee treatment and transfer facility and Snap On Tools, the engineering the toolbox. The tools being used Fundraising Ball. The Hangar was transformed into a glistening ballroom for aircraft hangar to provide the best department of the RFDS have by each engineer are automatically the sold out event, with 220 attendees from the local community raising over possible service and outcomes for received the latest in tool control tracked to reduce the risk of foreign $22,000 for the RFDS. It was a wonderful evening enjoyed by all who attended. our patients. technology. The ‘Snap On damage in the aircraft. Automated Toolkits’ combine RFDS Engineer Mark Crittenden with Snap On Toolkit A NEW ERA OF AIRCRAFT SOPHIE’S STORY: RFDS FLIGHT NURSE I currently work full time as a Flight Nurse for the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Western Australia. From a very young age I was interested in becoming a nurse and what the profession offered. I grew up in a small country town in a family of health professionals that were dedicated to promoting health. I spent many hours in rural hospitals volunteering my time and learning about the profession RFDS Flight Nurse Sophie Pepper before enrolling in university on completion of high school. During my time at university, it into an aircraft with prioritisation, Someone in a remote community became apparent to me that a career communication and emphasis on the may sustain a serious life threatening in retrieval medicine, and the RFDS patient’s needs. injury in which it may take two hours was my chosen career pathway. for us to get to them, although There is no typical day as a flight KEY FACTS: I worked for 5 years in a hospital despite this, the communities band setting before finally joining the nurse, life is never boring. It’s exciting together with knowledge, skills and > IMPROVED FUEL EFFICIENCY Royal Flying Doctor Service. and on the go and every day varies a friendly attitude to all play a part > CRUISING SPEED OF 780KM/H significantly. In a week a flight nurse in making it easy to get them help, > INCREASED CAPACITY FOR 3 STRETCHERED PATIENTS It was a combination of aspects may work a variety of nights and days, comfort, support and keep them alive that got me interested in flight with a range of people. They may land > BESPOKE AERO MEDICAL DESIGN AND FIT OUT until assistance arrives. This may nursing; firstly, a strong interest and on a road, a remote dirt strip, may > SHORT TAKE OFF AND LANDING CAPABILITIES include using an RFDS medical chest enthusiasm in the fields of critical fly out to an isolated community to from a station 200km away. > ACCESS TO UNSEALED REMOTE AIRSTRIPS care and midwifery and secondly, deliver a baby, may transport a sick an interest in providing the highest neonate or intubated patient from I encourage everyone that is standard of care to rural and remote one hospital to another. They may interested in becoming a flight nurse, PC-24 Illustration areas of Australia. Then there’s the be mid-flight to transport a patient to just do it. I love my job and would fun and excitement of no day ever and get diverted to a serious quad not change a thing. The Pilatus PC-24 long range jet is aircraft from 2017. The innovative Long term RFDS Corporate Partner, being the same — seeing different bike accident, motor vehicle accident set to revolutionise aero medicine aircraft will deliver increased fuel Rio Tinto, has been instrumental in places every day, balancing or station accident that requires for the patients of the Royal Flying efficiency with twice the cruising enabling innovative aero medical aspects of patient care, support immediate treatment – every day NURSE SOPHIE PEPPER Doctor Service, ensuring better speed of the PC-12. With an emergency health and evacuation and interventions with aero medical ranges significantly.