Thanks for watching me, a humble American, react to Royal Flying Doctor Service
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We have a few sacred charities here in Australia and they are so important that everyone supports them. There is the RFDS and also the Royal Surf LIfe Saving Society. The RFDS does get government assistance with aircraft maintenance covered and yes, its all free as is all emergency treatment in this country. Australia's remote Outback is bigger than the Sahara and one of the most remote deserts is the famous Simpson Desert. A motorbike rider fell doing an unassisted crossing and he pressed his emergency locator beacon which you must have with you. An hour later a doctor and nurse from the RFDS was attending to him and took him to Alice Springs Hospital. There is no location more than 90 minutes away from medical assistance in Australia thanks to the RFDS. They also do clinics in remote communities and also urgent inter-hospital transfers.
RFDS played a huge part in saving my life 3½ years ago. While I was away on holiday in Cairns some 1700kms north of my home town of Brisbane I had a heart attack and though I was cared for at Cairns Base Hospital I was in immediate and urgent need of an aortic valve replacement and the people who could best do the surgery where based at the Princess Alexendra Hospital in Brisbane. So, I was flown directly to from Cairns to Brisbane by the RFDS for surgery the next day. The flight took just three or so hours. I can't thank them enough for their outstanding patient care, professionalism and efficiency. The flight cost me nothing. They are absolute legends and I since donate on regular basis to them. They are one of the most trusted, genuine and worthwhile charities in Australia. 🙂❤
I just got emergency dental treatment from the RFDS, i'm in Lightning Ridge NSW, an outback mining town. 25yrs ago they flew me to Dubbo base hospital because i went into early labour. My step father was flown to Sydney's St Vincent's hospital for surgery and urgent care after a cancer diagnosis, and my mother was flown to Dubbo, then Sydney, by them for critical surgery. Also Angel flight helps out here too for non emergencies. I love our country ❤ 🇦🇺
They will also land on the road if need be, vehicles use their lights as a guide for navigation. The pilots of the RFDS are amazing people, with amazing flying skills.
In Australia we have a mateship that means when in need we help we help , we are an isolated country very big and we have had and still do rely on ourselves. Yes it’s free we support it by donations.
What l truly hate is that mateship is being undermined by our governments that follow the greedy American ideas that money is everything and everyone should pay ugly idea
The nearest hospital might've been 100's of miles away but none of the outback hospitals have specialist care available.
You break your leg they can help but if you need a specialist then the nearest hospital that can help is probably 1000's of miles away.
That's the beauty of the flying doctors because they get patients to where they need to be and it's free to the patient.
My son stopped breathing due to silent reflux at 4 months old, hes nearly 6 now but without the RFDS he wouldnt be alive today.
Why would a documentary about an Australian icon have a repulsive American narrator?
I recently heard on the radio a discussion about the flying doctors.
The large helicopters they use evidently cost about $15000 every time they are flown.
I live in a rural town that has a large public hospital.
They like all rural hospitals don't have specialist care so the flying doctors are always here collecting patients night and day and sometimes multiple times a day.
It's always reassuring hearing them overhead.
I have been flowen out 3 times for heart attacks, over 300Km to hospital. I'm still here… Thanks RFDS.
I lived in the deep Outback for over ten years. The RFDS is free supported by the public, some corporations, and some charitable functions. Landing strips are roads, flat fields, at night the community will set out kerosene soaked rolls of toilet paper, drive the strips as the plane is on approach to clears it of kangaroos and cattle. The docs are incredible as are the nurses and pilots. They are brilliant and dedicated. They. Are lifesavers in the truest sense of the word. I always considered it an honour to work with them in the emergency department. The cost of a flight from Townsville to mt isa was about 70 k aud. The patient was not charged a penny.
Unlike the US where healthcare is driven by corporate greed and is utterly dysfunctional, the Australian system is paid for by taxes, and having worked in it for about 12 y total, it is VASTLY. Superior to the American system.
Tw, Australia and the rfds does not use copters as they are considered to be too unreliable, too costly and not as safe as fixed wing aircraft.
Mums used to use pedal power to get remote school of the air for their children.
This is part of why net zero is an issue for Australia.
My husband was on a minesite when he stopped breathing. The RFDS were called and took him to the nearest country hospital where he was stabilised until he was able to be transferred to the city of Perth. He survived thanks to the RFDS. We were never billed for this service. We had been donating for years never knowing we would have to use it in the future.
I live remote WA both my husband and I were flown to Perth. The ROYAL FLYING DRS ARE FANTASTIC. The drs on the flight so dedicated. Big thanks to the RFD
Where I live in Bundaberg Queensland. We have a base for RFDS, my Inner Wheel club donated $1,000 last year to help and went to see the base. We were lucky because 3 planes were there to see and 1 just landed. The base is right next door to "LifeFlight" who run helicopters to take patients who are hurt to hospitals. This service is also free for the public.
Research "School of the Air" another historical aspect of outback life
Watching your reaction videos really emphasises just how little knowledge Americans have about what goes on the the world. Also your comment on the fact that the whole community comes out to prepare for the aircraft's arrival, and that the operation is funded by donations, just re-enforces the "me, me , me" attitude of people in the USA.
If angels really have wings then it's our RFDS. It's partly government funded and partly by donations and yes it's part of our universal healthcare. Why should people living in remote areas be denied universal healthcare coverage simply because they don't live on or near to the coastal population.
Ryan you could also check out SCHOOL OF THE AIR which is educating kids in remote areas.
imagine if your TV or computer was connected to pedal power. Imagine the calories potentially used.
Highly prized flight nurses. I know of one nurse who was poached for part time for medical evacs of American tourists and business people in PNG, Indonesia and Malaysia. Made more on his 4 week annual vacation than working the rest of the year. Bear in mind minimum wage in Australia i around $25 ph and of course medics are on much more than thatn minimum. Extrapolating out Your quite right about what an American service would cost.
We also have Angel Flight – it is a service where pilots of small planes use their planes to transport non-emergency patients to out-patient appointments. They have no medical training, they just act like a taxi to the hospital from remote areas. They donate their plane, fuel, and time for this. It helps many older pilots keep the necessary air time logged and makes them feel good at the same time. We are a generous Nation.
A lot of Australians donate monthly to rfds to provide funds for their operations
My kids have needed that service several times (lung disease). I dont mind donating to them at all❤ the pilots are amazing, the staff is kind and theres a shed with a fully equipped room for the patient while transferring from plane to ambo❤❤ they deserve full funding. Btw, NZ also have medical flights
The Royal Flying Doctors Service are amazing. I’ve seen them come out at any hour of the day sometimes at very remote locations and they do this 24/7, 365 days a year. Amazing bunch of folks. So many folks owe them their life.