Welcome Focus On Reducing Emergency Dept Wait Time

St John Media Release, 30 January 2009

St John welcomes focus on reducing hospital ED waiting times

St John welcomes Health Minister Tony Ryall’s announcement of a new focus on reducing hospital Emergency Department waiting times, St John Chief Executive Jaimes Wood said today.

St John, the largest ambulance provider in New Zealand, plays a key role in the pre-hospital treatment and transport of patients, and provides support to hospitals in delivering the best possible patient care.

“Our service is a vital contributor to the primary health sector, and we are committed to working with all parties to continually improve patient care,” Mr Wood said. St John ambulance staff do everything they can to ensure patients are looked after during the admission process from ambulance to hospital Emergency Departments.

St John has an interest in waiting times being reduced, to ensure we have as many ambulances as possible available for dispatch to emergency scenes. Our ambulance officers provide life-saving treatment at emergency scenes and en route to hospital or medical centres

St John also provides a vital service at 17 hospital Emergency Departments throughout New Zealand. Our St John Friends of the Emergency Department programme has nearly 750 trained volunteers providing support and comfort to Emergency Department patients and families, freeing up hospital staff to focus on clinical care. Emergency Department managers and staff report that our programme gives them more time to focus on their duties and reduces patient complaints.

ENDS

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