RFDS supports Kimberley flood relief
Australia’s Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) has been supporting the response to flooding in Kimberley, Western Australia (WA)
RFDS has been collaborating with WA’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) to support flood relief efforts in the flood-stricken area, including the ‘urgent transfer of high-priority patients from communities such as Fitzroy Crossing’.
RFDS has also been working with the Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service and WA Country Health Service, among others, on top of its regular provision of services in WA.
The service said that as part of its response to the crisis, and in response to the effects of heavy rain and strong winds affecting its Broome base, it had relocated two aircraft and several crews to Port Hedland.
RFDS said that it had close relationships with many flood-affected areas. It noted that Kimberley itself is the service’s busiest region in the state. RFDS provides an average of 44 patient retrievals, and over 100 remote clinic appointments in the region per week.
The service recently appointed Judith Barker as its new CEO for operations in WA in October.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor at the Voyageur Group. He was previously a News and Features Journalist for the rail magazine IRJ until 2021, and studied MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. His favourite helicopter is the AW169 – the workhorse of the UK air ambulance sector! He also led the creation of Waypoint: The AirMed&Rescue podcast, serving as its Production Editor and co-host.