Better health and ageing for all Australians

Media Releases

Airlift of Bali casualties completed

Only seven patients evacuated to Australia from Bali remain in care at Darwin Hospital, the Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson, said this evening.

In this section:

15 October 2002

Airlift of Bali casualties completed

Only seven patients evacuated to Australia from Bali remain in care at Darwin Hospital, the Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson, said this evening

"The Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, in conjunction with Emergency Management Australia (EMA) and the Defence Department, has organised airlifts of casualties from Bali to Darwin Hospital on military aircraft, air ambulances and chartered planes," she said.

"Following assessment at Darwin, patients have now been flown to other states where their specialist medical needs can be met.

"Fifteen critically wounded people have been flown from Darwin to major hospitals in other States. Three burns patients were flown from Darwin to Adelaide on Monday morning and five critical burns patients were flown direct from Bali to Perth on Sunday.

"In total, 86 injured people have been airlifted from Bali to Australia since the bombing on Saturday night. Of those, 61 were initially sent to Darwin and 25 were sent Perth. Tragically two of those patients have since died."

Senator Patterson said health authorities and health workers had responded magnificently to the emergency with emergency management plans being activated in States where specialist medical services were available.

"State health authorities have also put in place comprehensive mental health and counselling programs, including 1800 numbers and on the ground trauma counselling services," she said.

Senator Patterson said the Council of Remote Area Nurses Australia, which operates the bush crisis line, had offered counselling services to health professionals involved in treating the Bali victims. The number is: 1800 805 391.

"The Commonwealth Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr John McEwen, has held two teleconferences with State and Territory Health Departments to provide national coordination of Australia's health response, and we are also assisting with the compilation of a full list of people who have presented in Australian hospitals suffering from injuries received in Bali."

Of the 45 people airlifted overnight and this morning from Darwin:

4 patients (2 critical) were sent to Adelaide;
11 patients (4 critical) - to Brisbane
8 patients (2 critical) - to Melbourne;
12 patients (2 critical) - to Perth;
10 patients (2 critical) - to Sydney (Note: 2 arrivals in Sydney yesterday - 8 more expected this afternoon).

(Note: The above figures include only those patients sent on flights organised by Federal Government agencies. Some others patients have been sent to other States and Territories on commercial flights.)

Senator Patterson said: "I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives or who are missing, and those who have suffered and are suffering through the horrific events of the past few days."

Media Contact: Randal Markey, Media Adviser, 0417 694 520
Kay McNiece, Dept, 0412 132 585