Vehicles
Our current fleet of vehicles includes:
- 938 ambulances (stretcher carrying vehicles) - consisting of Mercedes, VW, Land Cruisers and Ford Transits (Ford Transits are used solely for the Patient Transport Service)
- Approx 365 support vehicles (including rescue trucks, megalift, cars, 21 rapid response vehicles)
- 3 BMW Motorbikes
- 4 Beechcraft Super Kingair B200c aircraft (Contracted)
- 9 helicopters (Contracted)
- Specialist over snow vehicles icluding two snowmobiles, a Toyota
4WD with mattracks, a Quad bike and a Kassbroher oversnow
vehicle.
Ambulance Vehicle and Equipment Access Requirements
Ambulance access to buildings and hospitals should provide ample space at entrances and on driveways to set down and pick up patients.
Design criteria
The following factors must be given prime consideration in the design of an ambulance entry.
Ambulance driveways should be exclusive to ambulance vehicles.
Entrance to driveways should indicated with a clear directory
sign, which may read, “AMBULANCE ENTRY” or “AMBULANCE ONLY”. In some
locations the sign may need to be illuminated.
Surfaces to driveways should be smooth but non slip and be
without uncovered drainage gutters or speed humps.
Turning circles
Turning circles and clearances to kerbs, existing buildings or other obstructions are for the current largest size of ambulance vehicle which requires a minimum turning circle of 15 metres.
Entrance canopies
The canopy over the entrance is to be large enough to provide
ample cover for two paramedics to unload the patient from
the rear of the vehicle.
The surface beneath the canopy should be level and non-slip and
ideally at the same level as the entrance to the building.
Canopies must be clear of the vehicle turning circles and the stretcher handling
area.
Height of Canopy
The height of the canopy from finished paved area to the
underside should be 3.5 metres (3.2 metres to the underside of any
beam).
These dimensions are required to accommodate roof mounted radio
aerials.
Download detailed drawings specifying access to hospital ambulance entry.
The Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW has produced an information sheet explaining the types of motor vehicles which may be fitted with flashing lights/sirens as well as the meaning of flashing light colours or siren sounds, and the circumstances in which these warning devices may be used. Download your copy here