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Simon O’Connor / Stuff
St John generic ambulance emergency logo pic file.
St John has confirmed changes for South Otago, including a move for volunteers to support ambulance services.
The move was criticized by National Taieri Party candidate Liam Kernaghan, who said “it is heartbreaking that St John has not listened to the community and legitimate concerns about ambulance services in the community.”
St John’s plans included hiring a paramedic to support the new ambulance service delivery model in Milton, 55 kilometers south of Dunedin.
However, that new model involved the use of volunteers, as the paid paramedic position was only for a six-month period.
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Kernaghan said the South Otago region has an aging population along with more industry in the area, and “local emergency services have never been more important.”
“Rural communities are constantly affected by decisions like this – now St John expects the community to pay the bill and provide more volunteers.”
Hamish McNeilly / Stuff
Taieri’s candidate, Liam Kernaghan, earlier this year.
Taieri Labor candidate Ingrid Leary said the “one size fits all” approach does not work for rural communities.
She planned to push to retain current staffing across the electorate and, if elected, work with politicians to secure full funding from St. John “while maintaining its charitable and independent status.”
According to plan, St John confirmed additional personnel for Balclutha, about 20 minutes from Milton, which would allow for double crew.
Those two stations were the last to be reviewed under the Dual Crew Project, a four-year project that will end the single ambulance crew nationwide by July 2021.
St John District Operations Manager Pauline Buchanan said that to reduce response times and ensure a high level of resilience in both cities, two new First Response Units would be added.
These vehicles, manned by trained volunteers and responding before a transport ambulance, allow for early assessment of patients and provide life-saving interventions.
The First Responders Units were used in rural communities across New Zealand, and Milton residents eager to participate were encouraged to contact St. John.
