The Queensland Government has awarded the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland section) a contract for additional patient flying time above their existing arrangements along the state’s east coast.
Queensland Health’s Director-General Mick Reid said an exhaustive, competitive process that began late last year had resulted in a five-year contract being offered to the Royal Flying Doctor Service for additional hours out of three coastal bases.
"This has resulted from significant growth of about 10% annually in the services required," Mr Reid said.
"We already have a four-year contract with the Flying Doctor for 6400 hours of inter-facility aeromedical transfers using aircraft from bases in Townsville, Rockhampton and Brisbane.
"These services are fully funded by Queensland Health.
"Along with the growth in demand for services, we had also received independent advice that several well-experienced aeromedical service-providers, including the Royal Flying Doctor Service, had the capacity and skills to provide these additional hours from along the eastern seaboard.
"Those factors, and the additional funding involved, required that we put this contract to open tender under Queensland Health’s strict purchasing policy – and the bids were very competitive."
The Flying Doctor had been providing the additional hours but not on contract. The new contract estimates about 3785 hours of extra aeromedical retrieval time.
Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) Chief Executive Officer Nino Di Marco said the Service was delighted to prove it could compete successfully among aeromedical service-providers.
"It reinforces that we can focus on providing the very best quality service and still be cost competitive," Mr Di Marco said.
"It also allows us to deliver the benefits from economies of scale and efficiencies that come from providing a fully-integrated aeromedical service.
"Last year we purchased two additional aircraft to respond to growth in aeromedical services so we are ready to go, and very pleased that today’s announcement means we will be continuing to provide this service to the people of Queensland."
Mr Reid said Queensland Health’s overall intention with the new contract was to purchase quality services while maintaining the highest safety standards.
"We’re always looking for greater efficiencies with aeromedical retrieval arrangements as part of our aim to get value-for-money on behalf of the people of Queensland," Mr Reid said.
"The management of this contract requires very detailed reporting so we can guarantee the arrangements are open and accountable."
