Soccer player's 70km car dash with broken leg sparks call for change to ambulance policies

A dramatic 70-kilometre car journey with a broken leg has sparked calls for a review of ambulance policies in a regional South Australian town. Harry Jones, captain of the Southern Breakers Football Club's senior men's team, was injured during the last game of the season, breaking both bones in his lower left leg.

Club trainer Peta Haldane, an experienced registered nurse and nurse practitioner in training, administered first aid to Mr Jones while they waited for an ambulance. She believed SA Ambulance policies meant he had to be taken to the nearest hospital, Victor Harbor's Southern Fleurieu Health Service, despite it not being equipped to deal with the level of orthopaedic surgery he needed.

"It was obvious he had a complete fracture to both bones in his lower leg and should have been taken straight to Flinders Medical Centre (FMC) since the closest hospital, Victor Harbor's Southern Fleurieu Health Service, was not equipped to deal with the level of orthopaedic surgery he needed."

Mr Jones's fiancée, Victoria Briggs, said he was in "excruciating pain" as he was X-rayed and then waited for a transfer to Flinders Medical Centre. A staff member suggested they use a private car to move him, and Ms Briggs took this advice, transferring Mr Jones herself with the help of his mother.

"if it was them they would use a private car to move him."

Despite their efforts, Mr Jones still had to wait until the next day for surgery. Ms Briggs and Ms Haldane have urged the health minister to consider Mr Jones's experience and the delays and pain he experienced.

"The paramedics were fabulous. All the hospital staff have been wonderful … but something needs to change,"

Mr Jones's coach, former police officer Gordon Scott, backed Ms Briggs and Ms Haldane's call for a review, saying someone undertaking a car transfer themselves for an injured loved one could emotionally compromise their driving.

"If you're being told there's no patient transport available to transport your loved one for several hours and a better option is to take them in your private car then you're probably going to take that option,"

A spokesperson from SA Ambulance said the ambulance crew had made the decision to take Mr Jones to the Victor Harbor hospital to "ensure the patient would receive the quickest medical care and quick access to appropriate pain relief options".

"The SA Health ambulance destination policy looks at a range of considerations, one of which is transport to an 'appropriate and geographically closest' hospital, as well as other considerations such as the patient's immediate health care needs, demand on individual hospitals etc"