New Norwood ambulance station boosts eastern suburbs response

The Malinauskas Labor government has officially opened the doors to the new $8.5 million Norwood Ambulance Station, which will provide eastern suburbs residents with more efficient and faster ambulance service.

Strategically located on the corner of Portrush and Magill Roads, this state-of-the-art facility addresses a significant coverage gap in the city’s suburbs.

From today, Norwood’s new ambulance station will be home to the Emergency Support Service’s dedicated 24/7 16-strong crew and 12 ambulance officers, who were appointed immediately by the State Government in July 2022. They have since responded to over 13,800 incidents and have been based in Stepney since their inception.

The number of priority 2 emergencies resolved on time has also increased significantly, with 62.5 percent of ambulances arriving on scene within 16 minutes, compared to just 33.5 percent in June 2022.

That means almost 3,000 more people in South Australia experiencing life-threatening emergencies received their ambulance on time last month than the same period in 2022.

The Norwood ambulance station is the fifth of 15 new or rebuilt stations in the state that have opened since the state government came to power in 2022.

These include stations at Birdwood, Strathalbyn and Port Augusta, and the first new metro station opened earlier this month at Woodville.

The new Norwood station has space for five ambulances and two light vehicles, with a carport for a further eight light vehicles.

The state government’s investment not only meets immediate needs,

but also lays the foundation for future growth and expansion.

Designed for future growth, the station also features training spaces and leadership offices that serve as a hub for continued skills development for paramedics in the Eastern Metropolitan Region.

As Peter Malinauskas put it

It’s an exciting day for the community as we cut the ribbon on Norwood’s first ever purpose-built ambulance station.

The State Government handpicked this site in July 2022 and to be standing here today, less than two years later, to officially open the site is a significant victory for our first responders and our community.

Norwood ambulance crews have already made a big difference in response times, and now residents can rest easy knowing they have these resources closer to home.

As Chris Picton put it

I am pleased that the new ambulance station is opening its doors and that local residents will have the opportunity to look around.

This station is something the ambos have been asking for and the state government has complied.

Emergency services found there was a significant gap in coverage in the city’s suburbs, preventing emergency services from reaching their own regions.

This station and the additional crews are an important resource to address this problem.

The State Government has been investing in the South Australian Ambulance Service for generations: more ambulances, more stations and more ambulances. This way, South Australians can be confident that ambulances will be there quickly when they need them.

Member for Dunstan Cressida O’Hanlon

This is a day I have been looking forward to since the announcement of the new ambulance station.

I am extremely proud to serve this community and to be part of a government that has delivered a new ambulance station in the eastern suburbs.

Residents now have better access to an ambulance in case of emergency.

The rebuilt ambulance station in Campbelltown, just 6km away, will further enhance safety in the community.

As stated by SAAS Chief Executive Officer Rob Elliott

The opening of the Norwood ambulance station marks a major milestone in

our ongoing efforts to improve ambulance services across the state, but particularly in the eastern suburbs.

We are proud to provide our dedicated paramedics and ambulance crews in Norwood with state-of-the-art deployment and training facilities, enabling them to provide the best possible care to those who need it.

The design and location of this station will enable us to respond even better to emergency situations.

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