Seaside ambulance fully operational

• Bridport branch station officer Gill Reid with assistant director operations N/NW Alistair Shephard and BSO team leader Lynden Ferguson.

By Daisy Baker,
June 08, 2022

Bridport’s new single branch ambulance station is now fully operational, giving locals expanded paramedic and volunteer ambulance coverage.

A paramedic and a Volunteer Ambulance Officer (VAO) will work together as a single crew, providing much-needed care and assistance to the community.

Previously, the North-East relied on a single branch station at Scottsdale, which provided service to the entire area between George Town and St Helens, and has seen a steady increase in demand.

Premier and Minister for Health Jeremy Rockliff said the addition of this station delivers on a key state election commitment to fund two paramedic positions for the North-East, easing the workload of the Scottsdale crew.

“The popular holiday town of Bridport was identified as the best location to meet the needs of the North East community with growth predictions by Dorset Council indicating a doubling in the town’s population by 2050,” he said.

All 48 additional paramedics announced as part of the 2021 state election have now been recruited across the state, funded through the 2022-23 budget.

Ambulance Tasmania is now seeking enthusiastic volunteers in Bridport to join and support their community through this new service.

Anyone who is interested can talk to the paramedics located at the Bridport Community Centre office or contact regional headquarters in Launceston on 6777 1450.

The Tasmanian Planning Commission has approved Dorset Council’s move to rezone Ezzy Park on Emily Street in Bridport from General Residential to Open Space Zone.

This section of land has been earmarked for the new emergency hub, which when built will be the home to the Bridport fire brigade and ambulance.