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2002 (c) Peninsula Community Access Newspaper Inc

 

Ambulance rescue to stay

 

The retention of the Point Clare ambulance rescue service will guarantee a service which is vital to Peninsula residents, according to State Member for Peats, Ms Marie Andrews.

Ms Andrews said it had been decided that there would be no change to the Ambulance Rescue Service based at Point Clare.

"The Minister for Health, Mr Craig Knowles, has advised that this decision comes as part of an extensive review of the NSW Ambulance Service operations," she said.

"The new definition of the Sydney Area does not include the Central Coast.

"As a result the Point Clare rescue unit will not be included in any changes to Ambulance Rescue in the Sydney Metropolitan area.

"I am delighted that the NSW Government has recognised that the needs of the Central Coast are distinct to those of Sydney," said Ms Andrews.

"Within the area covered by Gosford Council, which includes the Woy Woy Peninsula, there are large populations residing in remote settlements many of which are located around foreshores.

"The ambulance rescue service at Point Clare will continue to provide an extremely valuable and life saving service to local communities," she said.

"This is excellent news for the area, guaranteeing existing services which are vital for local residents including those residing within the Woy Woy Peninsula and Gosford areas."

Ms Andrews said that, over the past 18 months, the Ambulance Service had been undergoing an extensive process of reform.

"These changes have been largely driven by the recommendations of the Auditor-General delivered in March of last year.

"The new structure will see Central Coast stations which are within the dispatch area of the Charlestown Operations Centre, move from Sydney administration to the new Northern Division," Ms Andrews said.

Media release, February 25