Hawke's Bay ambulance call-outs up year-on-year despite nationwide decrease

St John Ambulance Hawke's Bay territory manager Brendon Hutchinson. Photo / Warren Buckland

Despite a nationwide decrease in ambulance call-outs in 2020, Hawke's Bay saw an overall rise - with stabbing and gunshot wounds, drowning and assault call-outs up on the previous year.

According to data provided by St John, New Zealand's 438,303 ambulance call-outs in 2020 were fewer than that of 2019 (450,347).

St John Ambulance Hawke's Bay territory manager Brendon Hutchinson said the Covid-19 lockdown decreased the number of incidents attended by St John temporarily nationwide, before returning to normal once back at alert level 1.

However, by the end of 2020 the number of callouts in Hawke's Bay (20,491) was up on the previous year (20,330).

Of the 20,491 call-outs in the region throughout 2020, St John staff attended close to one stabbing or gunshot wound a week.

While these incidents made up only 0.23 per cent of the overall call-outs, the data revealed 48 call-outs were attended for stabbing or gunshot wounds in 2020 – up from 41 in 2019.

A police spokeswoman said during alert levels 3 and 4, police saw a decrease in the number of serious assaults and expected the number to return to normal once restrictions were eased.

"However, it was anticipated some could potentially increase over and above normal levels, particularly in the short-term," she said.

"For example, experience in New Zealand and overseas shows family harm can escalate during and after large-scale disasters or crises, when stress and issues such as unemployment and poverty can exacerbate existing problems."

The number of traumatic injuries rose from 740 in 2019 to 845 in 2020 – despite a nationwide decrease - and Hutchinson said a rise in motor vehicle crashes in Hawke's Bay was consistent with national trends.

A helicopter transports an injured person after a crash near SH50 in September 2020. Photo / Paul Taylor

"As an emergency service, we are often first to arrive on scene, so we see first-hand the devastating impact of vehicle crashes and deal with extremely traumatic injuries," he said.

"We have support systems in place for our people from manager debriefs, peer support systems to MAP (member assistance programmes) and an in-house psychologist."

The greatest number of call-outs in 2020 was referrals from a GP (3464) while the remainder of the region's top three reasons for callouts were fall/back injuries (2191) and chest pain (1756).

The number of assault and rape call-outs (518) also rose in the region in 2020 - up 73 on the previous year.

A police spokesperson said the number of reports of sexual offences have remained "relatively static" over the past three years in the Hawke's Bay area.

The number of psychiatric and suicide attempt call-outs were down in 2020.

Ambulance staff were called to 347 incidents of the type, compared to 393 in 2019.

Hutchinson said the rise in mental health-related call-outs in Hawke's Bay remains an area of concern.

"The number of people needing ambulance assistance due to mental health issues has risen nationally over the last few years," he said.

"Our ambulance officers are non-judgemental, trained professionals; we are there to provide immediate clinical support and care to patients."

The number of burns and explosions (66) rose in 2020, compared to the 58 call-outs in 2019, while animal bites and attacks (37) also increased by four compared to the previous year.

The number of call-outs for drownings and diving accidents almost doubled in 2020 – rising from eight in 2019 to 15 in 2020.

SLS central region officer Debbie Moodie said the call-out squad had less action in 2020, despite increase in drowning and diving ambulance call-outs. Photo / Paul Taylor

Surf Life Saving New Zealand central region officer Debbie Moodie said the Hawke's Bay call-out squad has actually had fewer calls than previous years.

"We were expecting a busier summer because there were more people at the beach because nobody could travel overseas last year," she said.

"We've heard of other regions having a lot more rescues, but not here. We've had the call-out squad on standby, but not frequently attended."

The number of electrocution call-outs in Hawke's Bay rose from four in 2019 to six in 2020, while the amount of industrial and machinery-related accidents remained the same at 10.

The nation had its busiest December on record with ambulances responding to more than 1100 incidents per day.

St John Ambulance operations deputy chief executive Dan Ohs said 2020 saw an improvement in response times to Maori in rural and remote areas.

"We are also supporting Maori to improve their health outcomes and last year we referred three times more Maori patients to stop smoking pathways," he said.

Across New Zealand, ambulance communication centres answered 97 per cent of the more than 550,000 emergency 111 calls in 2020 within 15 seconds.