Patient care and comfort at the Royal Flying Doctor Service’s (RFDS) Meekatharra base in Western Australia has been lifted following the installation of a new patient transfer facility.
RFDS Meekatharra Senior Base Medical Officer Christine McConnell said: “We are proud to provide a more comfortable and welcoming area for our patients who are waiting to board aircraft.
“The facility improves security and lighting, and increases storage for critical medical supplies.
“Crews will also use the facility for training drills which are performed at least monthly. The new building will also help keep bugs and beetles out of the facility, as insects can be quite a problem here in Meekatharra at certain times of the year.”
The RFDS Meekatharra base was first established in 1945 and is located 760km from Perth at the Meekatharra Airport. Since July last year, 282 patients have travelled through the RFDS Meekatharra base.
Facts and Stats
A total of 17 RFDS doctors, nurses and pilots are based in Meekatharra
Over the last year, the RFDS retrieved 1,545 patients from across the Midwest region, including Meekatharra. That’s an average of 30 patients flown to safety each week, making it our second busiest region in WA
The RFDS also provides regular clinics in the Midwest region at Payne’s Find, Sandstone, Yalgoo and Cue
The RFDS is an essential link in the state’s health and emergency services network, working in collaboration with our key health partners including the WA Country Health Service, to ensure all who live, work and travel across WA have access to essential healthcare.
