The vision of building a state-wide medical support and transport business from the Southern Highlands is rapidly becoming a reality for the State Medical Assistance (SMA) team.
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Recognising a gap in the market for event medical assistance and patient transport, Highlands entrepreneur Ben Cant and well-known General Practitioner Dr Sam Rewais have spent four years evolving the business.
Their hard work is paying off, with SMA securing a string of contracts to provide event medical support and non-emergency transport services.
SMA staff and vehicles have become regular presences at NRL matches, Harness Racing events and niche events such as Tough Mudder. SMA is also involved in private patient transport locally, in Sydney and other parts of the state.
SMA has just won a major NSW Government tender which will see its staff and fleet back up NSW ambulances and hospitals for non- emergency transport across the Southern Highlands, Wollongong, the Central Coast, Newcastle and Southern Sydney.
Ben Cant said SMA’s expansion and offerings were timely.
“We’ve got an outstanding track record of providing medical back up for events, the local ambulance service and hospitals,” Mr Cant said.
SMA has a fleet of 11 vehicles and 173 professional staff and has already clocked up over 6,000 patient transports.
SMA has also signed Professor Paul Middleton as a director.
Professor Middleton is one of Australia’s foremost emergency medical specialists, having spent many years working in major hospitals in the UK and more recently driving reforms at NSW Ambulance and Westpac Helicopter Rescue Service.
Professor Middleton is also deputy Director of Emergency Medicine at Liverpool Hospital – one of Australia’s busiest hospital emergency departments.
Given its growth, SMA is seeking expressions of interest from paramedics and other support staff looking for career opportunities.
Mr Cant said SMA was a win-win for the government and community.
“We offer top-line, reliable and cost-effective back-up, which enhances local response capabilities,” he said.
“We’re never going to be a front-line ambulance service, but we play a valuable role taking pressure off front-line ambulance services when required.”
Prof, Middleton said SMA’s operating model and expansion plans were impressive.
“A priority for SMA is managing growth and providing premium services into the future,” Prof. Middleton said.
“SMA is certainly attracting the attention of industry players and the New South Wales Government, for all the right reasons.”
Anyone interested in working for SMA should complete an employment enquiry via www.statemedicalassistance.com.au