The touching story of two Queensland paramedics who took a dying woman to smell the salty air of the beach one last time has inspired a new service to grant wishes for the terminally ill.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Steven Miles said Ambulance Wish Queensland would allow terminally ill Queenslanders to achieve wishes they would otherwise be unable to achieve.
“Many people remember that very touching photograph of QAS staff in Hervey Bay with a terminally ill patient that they’d taken to look at the ocean while transporting her,” Mr Miles said.
“There have been several other stories of Australian paramedics performing similar impromptu acts of kindness for people approaching the end of life, and Palliative Care Queensland’s Ambulance Wish Queensland program is essentially trying to create a sustainable program for these acts of kindness.
“Fulfilling the final wishes of people can be challenging as you could be transporting someone who can’t walk, or sit in a chair, or who might require continuous oxygen or other medical appliances and support.
“With the Ambulance Wish Queensland program medically trained volunteers, adapted ambulances, and necessary equipment will transport people to fulfil their wish successfully and safely.”
The Queensland Government has contributed a de-commissioned ambulance and initial funding of $50,000.
Palliative Care Queensland CEO Shyla Mills said Ambulance Wish Queensland was modelled on a program that started in the Netherlands, which has been adopted in many other countries including the US and UK, but this was the first time it would be available in Australia.
“We are the first to bring it to Australia, after a member of the community on the Gold Coast was inspired and approached us about the idea,” Ms Mills said.
Requests for wishes will officially open on December 1 at the Palliative Care in Queensland Annual Awards Dinner at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
