The new patient transport service for regional and rural patients with NSW Healthshare was announced on Friday, June 15.

A CareFlight plane with an aeromedical team and a patient transport vehicle will operate out of Port Macquarie airport on a daily basis, transferring patients between hospitals for specialist medical treatment.

Port Macquarie, alongside Coffs Harbour, Newcastle, Tamworth and Armidale, is among several regional hubs established by the organisation as a way to invest in complementing medical services outside of metropolitan areas.

This new service sees an expansion of CareFlight’s fleet of King Air B200 twin engine turbo-prop aeroplanes. Specially fitted with a combination of stretchers and patient seating, the pressurised cabin provides a high level of patient comfort and safety.

CareFlight CEO Mick Frewen said it has been an excellent opportunity to expand Careflight’s delivery of essential patient services into regional NSW.

“Working in and serving the community to deliver the highest levels of patient outcomes has been at the core of CareFlight’s mission for over 30 years. This patient transport service is the perfect opportunity for CareFlight to be able to help even more patients” Mr Frewen said.

“This new service operating on the ground in the community, and in the air servicing each of the major regional centres, enables CareFlight to deliver a high standard of patient-centric support. This service is absolutely aligned with our mission to save lives, speed recovery and serve the community.

“This service is about giving patients from regional areas access to the very best level of health care to meet their needs, while ensuring they are transported with the highest standards of patient care and safety.”

It also provides nurses working across the Hastings region with more than five years experience in ICU or emergency departments to extend their skills in an aero-medical setting. More than 31 nurses are currently employed across Careflight’s footprint.

The service can transport patients to Newcastle within 20 minutes and land in Sydney in under an hour.

Port Macquarie-Hastings mayor, Peta Pinson inspected the aircraft on Friday and enthusiastically welcomed the extended CareFlight services that will operate from the airport.

“High quality 24 hour health care services are extremely important within our growing community, and we thank CareFlight and NSW Health for their ongoing commitment to providing local patient transport services that will ultimately save lives,” she said.

“As our community grows and new people come to our area, this investment not only shows confidence in our region but will be a vital service for so many people.”