The New South Wales Police Force is today marking a milestone with almost 2000 Emergency Medical Transports (EMTs) completed.
Highway Patrol police have been involved in the urgent transportation of human donor organs to hospitals since October 1984 -- the 1999th transport was conducted on Monday (27 December).
The practice was introduced when the late Dr Victor Chang -- considered by many as a pioneer of modern day heart transplantation -- requested assistance from the NSW Police Force to revolutionise the way in which organs could most-efficiently be transported from the donor to the recipient.
The majority of the medical runs completed to date have occurred within the wider Sydney metropolitan area, many between Sydney Airport and St Vincent's Hospital.
However, there have been occasions where trauma hospitals around the state have required police assistance in transporting vital, donated human organs. An average 75 urgent medical escorts are conducted by NSW Police each calendar year.
Central Metropolitan Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch, said police are proud of the long-standing relationship with NSW Health, and the dedicated service provided by Highway Patrol officers.
"Police, like those in the medical field, are in the business of protecting, and where possible, saving lives. The important role police play in successful organ transplant cannot be underestimated," Assistant Commissioner Murdoch said.
"The dedication by the Highway Patrol officers to their role is demonstrated by the outstanding safety record of the program: every transport has been achieved without incident.
NSW Organ and Tissue Donation Service's State Medical Director, Dr Jonathan Gillis, said there had been a significant increase in the number of organ donors during the past two years in NSW.
"The increase in the number of organ donors has heightened the demand for urgent medical escorts," Dr Gillis said.
"NSW Police play a vital role in the rapid and safe deployment of surgical retrieval teams and the subsequent transport of the organs to the transplanting hospital," Dr Gillis said.
Director of St Vincent's Heart Lung Transplant Unit, Dr Phillip Spratt, said the partnership was a crucial link in the organ donation and transplant process.
"The timely and efficient delivery of donated human organs to the operating theatre ensures that surgeons have the best possible opportunity of giving their patient another chance of life.
"During the past 25 years, 2000 people been given a second chance because of the co-operative agreement we have with police," Dr Spratt said.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL RUN POLICE FACTS:
· It was the late Dr Victor Chang who, in 1984, asked the NSW Police Force to become involved in the transportation of organs. His aim was to cut the time between the donor organ being harvested and it being transported to the recipient, enabling a greater chance of success.
· Since then, NSW Police Force have been working with the NSW Organ and Tissue Donation Service, Road Traffic Authority and many hospitals in NSW to ensure the successful co-ordination of Emergency Medical Transfers (EMT).
· Before each transport, NSW Police Force Highway Patrol officers and the doctor in charge will discuss the gravity and seriousness of the situation and determine the police response required. Urgency determinations can be upgraded or downgraded en route.
· The first Emergency Medical Transfer (EMT) was completed by now-retired police officers, Tony McCue and Daryl Irvin, for the late Dr Victor Chang on 28 October 1984, and ran from Sydney's Kingsford Smith Airport to St Vincent's Hospital.
· On this initial run NSW police officers manned every intersection to ensure the safe arrival of the organs and the medical team. With the RTA becoming involved and technology advancing this has allowed police to get a 'green light' corridor to increase safety and minimise disruption to the public.
· The emergency medical transports that the NSWPF are involved in do not always involve organs. On some occasions it may be the transport of a rare blood type or surgical prosthesis where the patient is already on the operating table.
· Many of the recipients have no idea NSW Police are involved in the organ transport process.
· As many as 10 people can benefit from the organ and tissue donation of just one person.
· Australia has one of the highest transplant success rates in the world.
· Since 1990 Senior Constable Stewart Bailey has been the liaison officer for the medical escorts and plays a key role with stakeholders to ensure a safe and successful transportation. Snr Cst Bailey alone has been involved in more than 200 EMTs.
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