Page 14 - RFDS TASMANIA - Senior Health Studies presentation _ Final Version v4_Neat
P. 14
History of RFDS
Tasmania
The RFDS began in 1928. The story is captured on the $20 note. 2018 was our 90th year.
The service began in Tasmania in 1960 with strong support from the aero clubs, Minister
for Health and Secretary of the Department of Health.
We purchased our first plane in 1993.
The state run medical retrieval service was created in 1995. RFDS via a public tender
supplied the plane, base, pilots, engineers and other support services.
Ambulance Tasmania run the service, task the plane, supply the flight Intensive Care
Paramedics and coordinate the medical retrieval staff.
The service is based at Launceston airport. There is one King Air B200 aircraft provided
under contract from RFDS SE (NSW) Section, including support when the plane requires
maintenance or staff are on leave.
In 2018/19 the plane had 2347 landings on 11 Tasmanian Air Strips, 7867 Primary Health
Consultations, 15 143 dental treatments and 207 patients transported by road.
Since 1964 we have also supported visiting dental services on the Bass St islands, RFDS
Medical chests, medical clinics on Bruny Is, scholarships and other primary health
programs, all from our own fundraising from with Tasmania.
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