The ACT Ambulance Service (ACTAS) has taken delivery of 12 new state-of-the-art ambulances added to its fleet to help ensure Canberra maintains the fastest ambulance response times in the country.
Announcing the new additions to the fleet, Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Mick Gentleman said the ambulances’ design was heavily influenced by feedback from the paramedics who used them day-to-day.
Each new vehicle is packed with innovations,” Mr Gentleman said.
“These include maximising the working area inside the vehicles to improve patient care and paramedic safety.”
He said the new features of the ambulances included an ergonomic, powered chair allowing easier movement and greater safety for paramedics while caring for a patient, and an electric step that automatically activated when the vehicle door opened and closed, providing safer movement in and out of the ambulances.
“We’ve recently allocated more than $3,252,000 of extra funding through various initiates to better resource and equip our frontline responders for growing demand and changes in the age profile of the Canberra community,” Mr Gentleman said.
“The new ambulances are in addition to ACTAS fleet upgrades, which include fitting ambulances with electric stretchers, power loaders and new defibrillators.”
He said the new ambulances would be crewed in part by 30 new paramedics expected to join ACTAS in due course.
“We are committed to ensuring our emergency services are well equipped and resourced to keep Canberrans safe,” the Minister said.
