Charlie Paterson,RFDS marketing and stakeholder relations executive general manager
WE wish to acknowledge the Grant District Council’s long-standing support for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) and, in particular, its significant support of the RFDS Mount Gambier Patient Transfer Facility project (District council draws line on RFDS support, December 4).
The council has joined our local RFDS Mount Gambier Support Group and the wider community in wholeheartedly embracing this project from the outset.
Once operational in 2020, the undercover RFDS Mount Gambier Patient Transfer Facility will deliver considerable improvements in operational response times and the level of care and comfort that our RFDS crews and health partners can provide patients.
For many years Grant District Council has heavily subsidised landing fee charges to the RFDS – a tangible cost saving – not to mention provided on-the-ground assistance to our crews and fundraising efforts at the airport.
Most recently, council has been a key champion and promoter of the RFDS Mount Gambier Patient Transfer Facility initiative and as such, has generously waived all long-term rent/lease charges, as well as committed to providing essential civil services free-of-charge to facilitate the redevelopment of the existing hangar.
Again, tangible financial savings to the project now and into the future.
RFDS crews land twice a day somewhere in the South East – and at least once a day at Mount Gambier Airport – to airlift residents and tourists to one of Adelaide’s major hospitals for lifesaving care or specialist medical treatment.
A first for regional South Australia, the RFDS Mount Gambier Patient Transfer Facility will set a new standard of care provided by the RFDS and its service-delivery partners at regional aerodromes across South Australia.
Thank you to all who have contributed to this redevelopment to date.
We have been humbled by the support from all corners of the community.
Charlie Paterson,
RFDS marketing and stakeholder relations executive general manager
