Ambulance crisis puts lives at risk

Rural New Zealanders are being warned not to expect an ambulance in an emergency, as the Order of St John struggles to cope with a staffing crisis.

The organisation said some staff were being rostered for up to 96 hours a week, and there was often just one ambulance with a sole volunteer to cover an area.

Occasionally no service was available at weekends, leaving patients to rely on services from the nearest main centre.

Northern region director of ambulance operations Peter Tranter said the problem was not just in the Far North or the Coromandel, but in areas around a 60-minute drive from Auckland, such as Wellsford, Helensville and Waiuku. "We are constantly lobbying the Government for more paid staff, but we also cannot get enough volunteers to help out."

Mr Tranter said the two paid staff in Northland's Kawakawa unit sometimes worked 96-hour weeks, including time spent on call. "It puts a huge strain on them."

Lack of staff meant that in most rural areas the sole St John member often drove the vehicle while the patient was left alone in the rear.

The Federation of Ambulance Officer Unions has argued that the number of single-crew ambulances is endangering lives.

And St John chief executive Jaimes Woods confirmed between 10 and 15 per cent of call-outs were being attended by one officer. His organisation is working hard to find funding for two-person crews.

Wellsford's sole St John Ambulance officer, Andy Chapman, said that in an emergency he would call on anyone with the right skills to drive the vehicle. "I try for a fireman or policeman, but a truck driver or taxi driver will do."

Despite Wellsford having a population of 2500 people, there was just one volunteer to call on. "I don't know why that is. Are people too busy these days?" he said.

Mr Chapman said there were many accidents where there was no point waiting for an ambulance for help - it was important that rural people learned basic first aid.

The Order of St John, the main provider of ambulance services in New Zealand, has about 600 paid officers and 2200 volunteers. It relies on government funding, community donations, fundraising and commercial activities, including charging patients.

Health ministry spokesman Stuart Powell said the ministry was aware attracting and retaining volunteers in rural areas was a problem. While it favoured the use of double-crewed ambulances, it understood this depended on resources. "Recent increases in funding have targeted stations where coverage has been a concern."

He said more paid staff had been hired for both Wellsford and Kawakawa to boost numbers.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY