Have you ever considered how people cope with the isolation of living in the Australian outback? Have you ever wondered how families who live hundreds of kilometres from a hospital survive in emergency medical situations?
You have the chance to find out these answers and so much more when the Royal Flying Doctor Service opens its hangar doors in a new observational documentary style television series.
The series produced by Granada Productions and entitled ‘RFDS’ follows the daily working lives of the Royal Flying Doctor Service personnel, the daily challenges they face and the patients who depend on their services to live in the vast Australian outback .
It provides an opportunity to see the first, largest and most comprehensive aeromedical organisation in the world at work. You will discover how the latest in aviation, communication and medical technology is used to bring an extensive healthcare network to people living working and travelling in rural and remote Australia.
Filmed from Broken Hill and Dubbo Bases, ‘RFDS’ gives an insight into the comprehensive and challenging work undertaken by the dedicated doctors, nurses and pilots who
are on call 24 hours a day and never more than 90 minutes away from a patient in need.
The series captures the spirit of Australia as it follows the often dramatic stories of the remarkable patients who call outback Australia their home.
Executive Director of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (South Eastern Section), Capt Clyde Thomson GM, said: “Viewers will be able to experience the extent of the ‘mantle of safety’ provided by the RFDS and comprehend the comfort our service brings to people living and travelling in the Outback. They will also see the great sense of satisfaction and sense of worth health professionals get working for the RFDS. ”
Viewers will also learn what many people don’t realise, that the RFDS provides so much more than aeromedical emergency services. They provide extensive primary health services to remote communities including a 24 hour over the phone consultation service, remote GP clinics and a Rural Women’s GP Service together with specialist consulting services and medical chests that act as outback pharmacies for remote areas. Through partnerships with universities they also promote training for doctors, nurses and allied health professionals.
The Royal Flying Doctor has been providing this lifeline to outback Australia for almost 80 years so to learn something new about one of Australia’s most iconic, innovative organisations keep an eye on your TV guide and this website for a screening date in 2008 on Channel Nine.