Jo Goodhew MP
National Party Associate Health Spokeswoman
8 July 2008
Improving ambulance services
National Party members of the Health Select Committee are supporting recommendations to make ambulances services safer.
“I’m confident the 14 recommendations made by the Health Select Committee will start addressing the concerns that
single-crewed ambulances put both the patient and the ambulance personnel at risk in many provincial, rural and remote
locations.”
National Party Associate Health spokeswoman Jo Goodhew is referring to today’s release of the findings from a select
committee inquiry into the provision of ambulance services in New Zealand.
“From the work we’ve undertaken it is clear that ambulance volunteers play a vital part in the provision of emergency
services.”
Some submitters to the Select Committee said they felt that all ambulance personnel should be on the full-time pay roll,
but National Party MPs don’t agree.
“The volunteers need to be retained and valued alongside the salaried workforce providing emergency medical services
throughout New Zealand.
“Volunteers are a strong and vital part of many communities, and as such, are an extremely valuable resource. Any move
to have ambulances only crewed with a salaried workforce is bound to undermine our rural and provincial communities.”
ENDS