Queensland expands COVID-era emergency call centre
A health initiative introduced by the former Labor government at the height of the COVID pandemic will be expanded by the new LNP government, with an $8.3 million investment in a Brisbane-based emergency call centre servicing the entire state.
The 24/7 Queensland Ambulance Service clinical hub, housed at the Kedron Emergency Services Complex, was introduced in 2020 as a way to relieve pressure on the state’s emergency services.
Designed to relieve pressure from a surging demand for ambulances, triple zero calls were triaged and if a lights and sirens response was not required, the call was transferred to the hub.
The QAS clinical hub aims to take pressure off Queensland’s ambulance system.Credit: Attila Csaszar
From there, the case is referred to the most appropriate care option.
QAS assistant commissioner Alex Thompson said the hub had about 1700 patient interactions a day.
“Of those, they’re able to navigate those patients to different healthcare pathways,” he said.
“That might include things like a falls referral unit going out that has a physio and an occupational therapist to provide care in the home.
“It might be one of our mental health nurses. It might be a social worker that helps work with patients.
“The most important part about this is it delivers care quickly, efficiently and in our rural and remote locations.”
