WFA to take over Wairarapa service
Ambulance rides will be free for those in the Wairarapa when a new service starts up.
Wellington Free Ambulance will provide Wairarapa's emergency and patient transfer ambulance service from March.
The National Ambulance Sector Office and Wairarapa District Health Board have been working since last July to select a provider of ambulance services in the Wairarapa region.
The ambulance services are currently provided by Wairarapa District Health Board, the only district health board in the country providing ambulance services for its region.
Health Board chief executive Tracey Adamson said the local service was too small to meet increasing costs.
Ms Adamson said existing ambulance staff members would be offered the chance to transfer to the new service.
"Most importantly there will be no change to the way people access ambulance services. You can still call 111 in an emergency, but in the future there will be no part-charge," she said.
- The Wellingtonian
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Andrzej - The question of the ambulance donated by the Lotto winner was alreadsy answered by GM, clearly you didn't read. The Lotto winner in fact is a Nurse/paramedic with the WDHB. Andrzej - you have not qualified any of your pro St John rhetoric. Are you saying that there should be a nationalised one only provider of ambulance services in NZ??? and of course to you it should be St John (because clearly you a loyal member)??? Such a service would hold the Ministry of Health to ransom and secondly St John is running very poor services in NZ currently - with Vollys having enough, massive delays in calls, Fire engines transporting patients etc. Lets hear your reply to that??? And you dare imply that WFA is not one of the worlds best services?? As far as Wairarapa is concerned they are getting the best deal. When contracts come up in a few years I think you will see St John lose a few services.
I'm from the UK originally and rather surprised that $2 million plastic canoes are funded by the taxpayer here but basic services like ambulances are not...
UK ambulances are a free part of the health service and I see no reason why they ought not to be here in NZ with a little re-organised spending so we waste less money on other things.
I owe Wellington Free a great debt personally as they moved me swiftly from one place to another for surgery that saved my life, so all strength to their arm, I say.
That's what it says doesn't it "Ambulance rides will be free for those in the Wairarapa when a new service starts up"
St John Ambulance would of been a better solution. St John provide most of the public ambulance services to New Zealand. What will happen to the ambualnce that was kindly donated by the lotto winners. Out with WFA, In with St John :)
but will it be free for Wairarapa patients = YES or will they still be charged like now? = ALL FREE but they will do lots of fundraising.
What is the effect of this change on Joe Public? = not overly much except they won't have to pay. But Wellington Free is one of the worlds best services - you are lucky St John never got the contract!!!
What will happen to the Ambulance donated by the Lotto winners? = it will still be used - all WDHB ambulances will be handed over to WFA & it will have to be used in Wairarapa.
but will it be free for Wairarapa patients, or will they still be charged like now?
What is the effect of this change on Joe Public?
What will happen to the Ambulance donated by the Lotto winners?
Andrzej I already answered that question about Lotto!!! You don't back up your remarks about St John being better. What makes you think Wairarapa would do better with St John? Do you belive they do a good job in other rural parts of NZ? Can youi back up your claim Welly Free are not a good service?