Chopper still long way off

Health Reporter EVEN if CareFlight managed to raise $10 million to buy a second helicopter, it would take another six to 12 months before the chopper was up in the air helping vulnerable Territorians.

CareFlight NT general manager Philip Roberts said, at the moment, there was just one helicopter in the Top End – which was only available for emergency call-outs 70 per cent of the time.

“That’s because a helicopter has quite significant maintenance requirements, and they are scheduled maintenance and it has to occur under warranty,” he said.

“If you get a second helicopter up here, you push that availability up to more than 90 per cent.”

Mr Roberts said it had been campaigning for some time to get a second chopper, but had yet to raise the funds it needed.

“We’ve been advocating for a second helicopter for quite a while now,” he said.

“During the election campaign, the ALP said it would support a second helicopter in the NT. We’ve also been speaking to the Liberal Party and the National Party as well, giving them the opportunity to consider our request.”

Tasmania has three helicopters to cover 68,000sq km; where as the Top End’s only helicopter looks after 475,000sq km.

Member for Solomon Luke Gosling is calling for the Feds to fund a second helicopter.

“All Australians have the right to quality health services, regardless of where they live,” he said.

“The Federal Government should show their commitment to Territorians’ health and address this urgent need.”

However, a spokesman for Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the Commonwealth was already contributing enough. “The NT Government is responsible for aeromedical services in the remainder of the NT,” he said. “CareFlight was awarded a 10-year contract by the NT Government for the Top End Medical Retrieval Service in January 2013 to provide aeromedical rescue helicopter services.”