St John ponders cars move

A review of how ambulance staff respond to emergencies could see intensive care paramedics get their own cars, instead of being attached to an ambulance.

St John Ambulance has just completed a national ‘‘roadshow’’, consulting with staff about possible changes to the way their highest-qualified paramedics respond to serious call-outs.

Tasman District operations manager James Mcmeekin said the review was to ensure the organisation was meeting the needs of patients and communities throughout New Zealand.

‘‘We have recently completed a roadshow with our people to seek their input ahead of making any decisions on how we deploy ICPS [intensive-care paramedics] in future,’’ Mcmeekin said.

‘‘In general, our approach sees ambulance-based ICPS moving into rapid response vehicles equipped with additional clinical tools, meaning they are better able to respond to and support critically ill patients.’’

If the proposal went ahead, paramedics and ambulance officers would continue to doublecrew ambulances, while the ICPS would attend call-outs in rapid response vehicles.

‘‘We will be able to share more about this approach in the coming months,’’ Mcmeekin said.

Grey Power secretary Graeme Faulkner, based in Blenheim, said a proposal to free up betterqualified staff made ‘‘perfect sense’’.

Senior patients made up a large proportion of call-outs for ambulance crews.

‘‘It is sadly a fact of life that this is one service that we will use as we age, so the thought of having a more rapid response from qualified paramedics is a very good move,’’ Faulkner said.

‘‘We in Grey Power will support any move that will help the response times and attention that our older members get.’’

Renwick Medical Centre

general practitioner Dr Buzz Burrell said any improvement to the speed at which paramedics arrived at call-outs was welcomed.

‘‘It’s a no-brainer if it means an ICP can go to an area more quickly in their own vehicle, and if the vehicle is capable of transporting a patient, that’s absolutely fantastic,’’ Burrell said.

The Marlborough GP, previously based on the West Coast, had helped to write a manual for training rural doctors and nurses as first responders, for a scheme called Prime Response in Medical Emergency.

Rural primary practitioners were often first on the scene at remote accidents, to support patients while they waited for an ambulance to arrive.

‘‘I’m just hoping this initiative isn’t robbing Peter to pay Paul,’’ Burrell said.

‘‘We don’t want to see something being cut in order to fund this initiative. It should be as-well-as, not instead-of.’’

First Union ambulance co-ordinator Faye Mccann said the union was in discussion with St John about the proposals, as some staff were worried about whether jobs would be affected.

Staff were also worried about whether they would be paid appropriately for the extra skills required for these roles. ‘‘In the past St John has fallen behind in these areas,’’ Mccann said.

‘‘We have also heard of concerns regarding the mental health effects having a single-crewed ICP will have, with the reduction in ability to debrief with another colleague.’’

Blenheim and Picton ambulances became doublecrewed after extra government funding in 2017.

Previously, staff shortages meant crews were sometimes volunteers, or sometimes just one person, which made it difficult to treat people while driving, and carried safety concerns for the sole crew member.

About three-quarters of the organisation’s funds came from central government, and the rest from donations, fees and fundraising.