Topic summary

Royal Flying Doctor Service

Royal Flying Doctor Service

The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), commonly known as the Flying Doctor, is an aeromedical retrieval service in Australia. It is a non-profit organisation that provides urgent and emergency medical transport for patients in rural and remote areas of Australia who require transfer to a higher level of care (such as a tertiary referral hospital). RFDS also provides primary health care services such as general practice, mental health and allied health to remote communities who would otherwise have limited access. The RFDS comprises six autonomous regional organisations (such as the RFDS Queensland Section) and a federation office in Canberra.