It has been proposed as part of ongoing discussions to get a dedicated ambulance station in the town.
It would run in addition to the current model of care, which sees Tocumwal Fire + Rescue NSW members acting as first responders until an ambulance from a nearby station can attend.
The closest is Finley, 21km away.
Berrigan Shire Mayor Julia Cornwell McKean said while the preference is still to have a station in Tocumwal, this is an interim option worth investigating.
But she said it would be up to the community to decide whether to move ahead on the proposal.
“Council and the ambulance steering committee met with three representatives at the Tocumwal Memorial Hall, and the option of having a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) service was discussed,” she said.
“It would require volunteers from the community, and it would be a complementary service to what we already have.
“The steering committee and myself will put it to the community in late September or early October, at a public meeting.
“We believe it is a great way forward in the short term, but we will not allow the ambulance station for Tocumwal to be taken off the table.
“Even if we did get a commitment for the station now, it would take up to five years to build.
“We needed something now, which the CERT service may fulfil, while we work toward our future needs.”
Official data from NSW Ambulance records that in 2022/2023, there were nine Priority 1A responses (immediately life-threatening highest emergency cases) in Tocumwal.
Data also states that the median response time for emergency Priority 1 cases (response with lights and sirens) was 18.18 minutes.
The median response time for Priority 2 cases (response with no lights and sirens) was 26.45 minutes.
“New South Wales Ambulance can assure the Tocumwal community that requests for ambulances are triaged according to urgency and clinical need to ensure the most appropriate response to a patient,” a NSW Ambulance spokesperson said.
“New South Wales Ambulance met with Berrigan Shire Council and the Tocumwal Ambulance Steering Committee to discuss the various New South Wales Ambulance trained volunteer service delivery models for local communities, including Community First Responders (CRF) units, which are already in place in Tocumwal, and Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT).
“New South Wales Ambulance is committed to continuing to consult with the Berrigan Shire Council and the Tocumwal community about volunteer opportunities to enhance NSW Ambulance clinical services in the community.”
But Cr Cornwell McKean said anecdotal evidence gathered by the steering committee suggests the community is still not confident in using the ambulance service.
From the results of a recent community survey, organised to gather evidence to support their campaign for a station, she said at least 80 per cent of presentations to the local emergency department were making their own way there.
“We need to build community trust,” Cr Cornwell McKean said.
“During this process quite a few people have told us ‘it’s always been like this’, but it doesn’t have to be.
“We need to stand up and be counted.
“We’re hearing of so many people not calling for an ambulance, so we’re not really getting a true representation of the need.
“We encourage people in our community to call every time because we can’t prove the desire for the service without the data.
“I appreciate that New South Wales Ambulance says there are at least 20 more communities on the list (to receive a station) before us, but I am here to represent only one community.
“And I don’t care if we’re 20th or second, we need a station here, and we are still lobbying.”
Details surrounding the public meeting on the options moving forward will be finalised following local government elections on September 14.
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