Queensland Ambulance Services is trialling the off-road prowess of the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen.
With the aim of providing rapid medical response to people in hard-to-reach locations, QAS will potentially add more of the 135kW/400Nm 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel four-wheel-drives to the fleet.
At a cost of $245,000 each, the G-Series is a much more expensive option than the current Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans, but has off-road capabilities unavailable in the regular ambulance fleet vehicles used across the country.
The G-Series is also in fleet use by the Department of Land Water and Planning in Victoria as go-anywhere fire appliances with pumps, hoses, falling object protection systems, sirens and lights.
The six-month Queensland ambulance testing program will put the G-Series four-wheel drive gearset into action around Cairns, Rockhampton, Longreach, Kilcoy, Boonah and sandy driving conditions on Moreton Island – all renowned destinations for off-roading.
QAS deputy commissioner Dee Taylor-Dutton says the current Sprinter fleet can’t reach patients the G-Series can.
“It’s important we put this vehicle through its paces in the sorts of environments it will be operating in to ensure it is robust enough to meet our requirements,” she explains.
“The QAS currently has more than 250 4WD stretcher ambulances in our fleet which are used in rural and remote areas where reaching patients can prove challenging.
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We want to be sure we can safely reach patients in all types of remote and difficult environments,” Taylor-Dutton adds.
Queensland health minister Steven Miles says the aim is to give paramedics confidence when responding to rural and remote emergencies.
“The Palaszczuk Government recognises the need to provide our hard-working paramedics with the best equipment available to provide the best care possible,” he says.
“The G-Wagen 4WD has undergone extensive upgrades to become a state of the art ambulance vehicle, capable of responding in emergency conditions and being a platform to provide emergency pre-hospital care to sick and injured Queenslanders and visitors,” Miles explains.
The G-Series pick-up has been given the usual ambulance fit-out, including a patient stretcher, seating for paramedics treating patients and storage for equipment and medical supplies.
There is also a winch and recovery points front and rear.
“Enhanced 4WD capabilities including differential locks and a recovery winch and recovery equipment should that be required when officers are responding to incidents off-road,” Miles adds.
“This equipment makes ambulance transport safer and more comfortable and provides optimum functionality for both patients and paramedics while meeting both on-road and off-road performance requirements.”
