By Emma Gumbleton
Northern Territory News (Australia)
Copyright 2006 Nationwide News Pty Limited
All Rights Reserved
Health officials yesterday defended the emergency response to the Ghan derailment, saying the effort was “superb”.
Medical crews arrived at the scene in less than half an hour. But a helicopter to evacuate a critically injured 50-year-old woman took up to 90 minutes to arrive.
Royal Darwin Hospital medical superintendent Len Notaras said crews from Batchelor, Pine Creek and Katherine went to the aid of injured and shaken passengers.
St John ambulance crews were at the scene within 45 minutes and treated 80 people on site.
Aeromedical retrieval teams were on stand-by at Darwin airport, but a helicopter from Tindil RAAF base near Katherine was used.
There have again been suggestions the hospital buy its own helicopter. Aeromedical Retrieval Services director Colin Myers said the emergency response was hampered without one.
But Dr Notaras said it was not cost efficient in a small city.
“The big centres that have their own helicopters are dealing with almost daily responses, in close proximity,” he said.
“To have a helicopter ready and fuelled to fly out at short notice requires a flight crew as well.
“You’re starting to stretch a resource for a small gain in time, that may well impact on other resources,” Dr Notaras said.
A 57-year-old truck driver, charged over the accident by NT police, will remain in hospital under supervision for back injuries.
The 50-year-old injured passenger is in a serious, but stable, condition in hospital.
Two other people — aged 70 and 71 — brought in for treatment were discharged yesterday. “Looking at the nasty nature of the derailment, people are tossed about, you would expect things like whiplash, bumps and bruises, and concussion and fractures as well,” Dr Notaras said.
“I’m relieved from the perspective of the magnitude the tragedy ... I think it could well have been significantly worse.” Counselling is being provided for passengers.