Hope Vale Mayor Bruce Gibson, Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls, Member for Cook David Kempton and Deputy Mayor Barry Bowen celebrate the south-eastern Cape York community’s new ambulance. Photo: Supplied.
Hope Vale health staff will no longer have to drive non-ambulance vehicles during emergency situations following the delivery of a dedicated ambulance to service the south-eastern Cape York community.
The delivery of the ambulance to the Hope Vale Primary Healthcare Centre is the result of a partnership between the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) and the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service (TCCHS), and will strengthen the ability for registered nurses at community’s clinic to respond to local medical emergencies.
For time-critical patients, this translates to an immediate response while paramedics respond from Cooktown or by aeromedical assets.
Training to use the vehicle and equipment for staff and volunteer drivers has been provided by QAS so that local health experts can better respond to emergencies in lieu of a dedicated emergency services presence.
The ambulance is the first of five scheduled to be delivered to remote communities across Cape York, with Mapoon, Lockhart River, Aurukun and Kowanyama set to receive their own units.
The TCHHS clinics in the communities, including Hope Vale, will join a network of 22 other hospital-based ambulances across the state, through which they receive regular training, support and access to QAS logistics and services.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said the State Government was committed to delivering equitable health care for all Queenslanders, no matter where they called home.
“This expansion of the hospital-based ambulance service into the Cape will see five clinics receive a fully kitted-out ambulance, along with training and education, for health staff to respond in their remote community,” he said.
QAS Torres and Cape executive manager Krystal Smith said the upgrade followed a review of Cape York operations, identifying the need to strengthen emergency response and community education.
“Our teams already provide culturally appropriate care, and this expansion lets us do more, like training locals in first aid, CPR, and injury prevention,” Ms Smith said.
“We’re also improving clinical support, emergency coordination and safety for both patients and staff.”
Health Minister Tim Nicholls gets an up-close look at the new Hope Vale ambulance. Photo: Supplied.
Money went somewhere? 
