The SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) is in line for an upgrade with 184 existing ambulances set to reach their end of life and be replaced as well as 36 new ambulances delivered to support additional crews.
Announcing the boosts, Premier Peter Malinauskas said the new fleet of Mercedes-Benz VS30 Sprinters (one of the vehicles pictured) would be reconfigured and fitted out to suit the needs of the SAAS.
“The first of the new vehicles are expected to be on road by July 2022, ready for the commencement of the first new crews,” Mr Malinauskas said.
The Premier said 99 ambos (paramedics, ambulance officers and 000 call takers) would start by mid-next year, with the first additional 16-paramedic crew expected to start this month (July) based at Parkside before ultimately moving to the new Norwood station.
“Of the 36 new extra ambulances, 19 will go to metropolitan sites while 17 will be rolled out throughout the regions,” he said.
“The remaining replacement vehicles of approximately 46 each year will be allocated based on the mix of age and distance travelled.”
Mr Malinauskas said each Mercedes-Benz VS30 Sprinter came with improved safety features and the latest technology, including improved leather seats for infection control, a power-assisted stretcher, and Wi-Fi for ease of transmitting clinical data.
He said Norwood, Mount Barker and Gawler would be among the first additional crews to receive the VS30 Sprinter allocation.
“This is the biggest order of new ambulance fleet that South Australia has ever seen and will contribute to our hardworking ambos delivering life-saving patient outcomes,” Mr Malinauskas said.
