The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) stands ready to serve Western Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic and is building the 25% surge capacity expected to be required for the coming months.
“The Flying Doctor crews of our 24-hour aeromedical emergency service continue to work through these unprecedented times,” RFDS Western Operations CEO Rebecca Tomkinson said.
To support the RFDS response, the aeromedical charity has launched its Response Ready for WA Appeal and is calling on all sectors of the Western Australian community to donate.
“The response to, and recovery from, COVID-19 will be a critical, ongoing team effort,” Ms Tomkinson said.
“As a not for profit charity, providing an essential and life-saving service, we literally rely on the generosity of our funders to keep us in the air and we look forward to Western Australian organisations contributing to the fund,” Ms Tomkinson said.
“We have been a trusted and quintessential health care partner in Western Australia for more than 90 years. We are there to help a mate when they need us the most - and that time is now, in the coming weeks and the many months ahead,” Ms Tomkinson said.
The Response Ready for WA Appeal will enable the immediate bolstering of frontline people – doctors, nurses and pilots.
Funds will also be invested in aircraft and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to serve regional communities across Western Australia, as well as provide the tools, equipment and consumable supplies for on-the-ground emergency response into the long term and shore up the ongoing sustainability of the aeromedical charity.
If you are in a position to do so and would like to support our response to COVID-19 in WA, please donate today.
Interviews available on request
Media contact: Ivy James, Media Manager, Royal Flying Doctor Service Western Operations
M: 0434 146 655 E: Ivy.James@rfdswa.com.au
