New rural terrain ambulance
A new ambulance type designed for rural terrain which has started operating in Geraldine is the first of its kind in South Canterbury.
St John South Canterbury territory manager Darryn Grigsby said introducing a First Response Unit to Geraldine about a month ago was part of the charity’s efforts to improve access to healthcare for New Zealanders in rural and remote areas.
‘‘Geraldine had a much older ambulance before. This was an opportunity to give a brand-new vehicle to our volunteer team, and helps them do the job they need to.’’
Grigsby said the new Volkswagen unit was smaller and nimbler than a typical ambulance, while having the full complement of equipment needed to treat and transport patients.
Volunteers crewing the vehicles would be able to get to patients in rural areas more quickly, and either take them to a nearby hospital or rendezvous with a helicopter or transporting ambulance, Grigsby said.
St John started rolling out the new ambulance type in July 2019, with a fleet of 14 distributed to various rural areas from Russell to Picton. The charity announced at the time it would be adding up to 60 more to the fleet over the next two to three years.
The vehicle is based on the Volkswagen Transporter T6 ambulance used throughout Europe.
Grigsby said an impressive feature of the new ambulances was a specialised battery charger which does not allow the vehicle to start if it’s plugged in, reducing the risk of damage to the vehicle and station.
Geraldine station manager Leigh Barrie said the new vehicle ‘‘certainly drives very smoothly’’ and had already been used in two callouts which required driving over gravel.