Community Bank Mount Gambier and District, part of Bendigo Bank, has been recognised with new signage at Mount Gambier’s Royal Flying Doctor Service Patient Transfer Facility, now improving patient care and operational response times for hundreds of critically ill patients every year.

Community funds, including a generous $50,000 contribution from Community Bank Mount Gambier and District, have helped the Flying Doctor transform a hangar at Mount Gambier Airport into a dedicated patient transfer facility – the first of its kind in regional South Australia.

Half the hangar has been refurbished into a patient care facility while the other half remains a traditional hangar for aircraft parking. The first patient was transferred through the site in June.

RFDS crews land twice a day in South Australia’s South East region and at least once a day at the Mount Gambier Airport.

The new $500,000 Patient Transfer Facility assists both the RFDS and SAAS MedSTAR crews to stabilise a deteriorating patient effectively before flight.

“The common values and ideals of putting the community first as exemplified by both Community Bank Mount Gambier and District and the Royal Flying Doctor Service meant they were always going to make a great fit when they came together, as they have, in helping enable the development of the patient transfer facility at the Mount Gambier Airport,” Mount Gambier RFDS Support Group President Bill Russon said.

“Our sincere thanks go to them for its far-sighted and community-based support for this ground-breaking initiative.”

Branch Manager Tracy Koop said the bank “did not hesitate” to get involved in facilitating such worthy and much-needed infrastructure.

“We had been looking for a major project to partner with that would benefit our whole community and this certainly fitted that need,” she said.

“To be able to have such a space where the patient is top-priority and sheltered throughout this trying time in their lives is invaluable.

“This is a facility that, although we all hope we never have to use it personally, is very much needed and gives the families great peace of mind their loved ones are being well cared for as they start their journey through to Adelaide.”

The significant investment by the RFDS has been supported by the SA Ambulance contribution of an ambulance on site which will enable RFDS and SAAS MedSTAR teams to improve response times and jointly deliver a better patient experience.

Previously, patients were transferred onto aircraft directly from the tarmac at all hours of the day and in all weather extremes.