The claim that the Tamworth ambulance rescue truck being offline eight times in the last five weeks for up to 24 hours each time is “posing an unacceptable risk to public safety” is both disingenuous and inflammatory.

I have been a researcher of the delivery and operation of rescue services in NSW for over thirty years.  

All rescue units in NSW have to be accredited by the State Rescue Board (SRB).  In NSW there are 313 accredited rescue units distributed between 183 Fire & Rescue NSW (FRNSW), 76 State Emergency Service (SES), 40 Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA), 8 NSW Police Force (NSWPF) and 6 Ambulance Service NSW (ASNSW).  

The turnout of a rescue unit is under the control of NSWPF with the local police rescue co-ordinator (RCO) responsible for responding the appropriate rescue unit.

In Tamworth when a rescue unit is required the RCO would respond the Tamworth ASNSW rescue unit which is the primary unit and whenever it is offline the RCO would respond Tamworth FRNSW rescue unit which is the secondary unit.

There is no gap in the response of a rescue unit in Tamworth and surrounding areas.  

The claim by paramedic that the times that its rescue truck is offline is “posing an unacceptable risk to public safety” is regrettably mischievous and obviously meant to curry support with the local population but at the same time may be causing unnecessary angst.

Frank Fitzpatrick

Warrimoo, NSW