The RFDS Base in Bundaberg was established in 2002 and has been providing life saving care to the local community for the last 17 years. Before we first took flight from our current Bundaberg Base, local communities relied on aircraft despatched from Brisbane or Rockhampton to receive our specialist care. Today, our aeromedical teams can support patients far and wide, from Cairns in the north to Longreach in the west.
In 2011, we welcomed LifeFlight to the Base, beginning a strong partnership committed to improving the health of communities in the Wide Bay area and beyond. Together we transport around 3,500 patients a year. With this increased demand of patient transfers, comes a need to upgrade our current Base so we can meet demand for our services.
Outgrowing our current Base means that we also have restrictions on space.
Currently, there is nowhere to look after our patients in a comfortable and welcoming area while they wait to board or are transferred from one of our aircraft. Our patients are waiting in the back of the aircraft or ambulance,
which leads to delayed transfer times. This new co-shared facility will help solve this problem with space for up to four patients and their families, allowing them to be cared for in comfort surrounded by their loved ones.
The new Base will be a state-of-the-art facility being equal to some of the best in the country. It will also be the first facility of its kind in Queensland housing both rotary and fixed wing aircraft under one roof, allowing us to deliver the finest care to the community of Bundaberg and its surrounding areas.
Senior Base Pilot, Haydn Frisby, explains the difference the upgrade will make to the dedicated staff who work from the Base:
“There will be an increase in space for crew, staff meetings, training and equipment storage. Being purposebuilt, it will be tailored to the needs of pilots, nurses and office staff. It will be a lot easier to do our jobs and will also cater for the needs of our patients.”
We are incredibly grateful to the Federal Government for its $3million commitment towards this $6million facility, and our
supporters for partnering with us to get this important project off the ground.
Your generosity will help us deliver world-class medical care to every Australian, regardless of where they live.
Thank you to all who have helped make history by contributing towards this important project.
If you would like to help fund the new Base, please call us on (07) 3852 7515.
