Report of the Department of Health / New Zealand.

  • New Zealand. Department of Health.
Date:
[1963]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Report of the Department of Health / New Zealand. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    44/120 (page 44)
    Ambulance Services Ambulance Transport Advisory Board The Board met on three occasions during the year and, in addition, the working committee of the board met on a number of occasions. Air Ambulance Service A total of 25 licensed aircraft operated by aero clubs and commercial operators are now available for ambulance purposes. Civil aircraft carried 298 ambulance cases during the year 1961—62 and although it is difficult to arrive at the full cost of the service, because payments are included under the general heading “Transport of Patients”, it would appear that the average journey cost about £40. Air ambulance facilities were also provided by the RNZAF and NAC when necessary. Road Ambulances Hospital boards are required by statute to make provision for the transport of sick and injured patients, and they either do this work themselves or else enter into an arrangement with a voluntary organisa¬ tion to provide the ambulance services for their district. Hospital boards which operate their own services had a combined fleet of 64 ambulance vehicles and 44 ambulance stations as at 31 March 1962, and in addition voluntary organisations operated, on a subsidised basis, 143 ambulances from 80 ambulance stations. A total of 153,804 patients were transported during the same financial year and the combined running totalled 1,826,391 miles. Finance Grants made by hospital boards to subsidised organisations during the year 1961-62 amounted to £170,805 for maintenance purposes and £8,845 for capital purposes towards the cost of purchasing eight new ambulance vehicles. In addition to the grants received from hospital boards, ambulance operators themselves provided a considerable sum of money by way of voluntary contributions. Ambulances operated by hospital boards incurred an expenditure of £39,167 for maintenance purposes, and consent was given for a capital expenditure of £11,250 for the replacement of four ambulance vehicles. Policy The Ambulance Transport Advisory Board has for some time recog¬ nised the need for ambulance services throughout New Zealand to be manned by skilled personnel and in this connection it has, in conjunc¬ tion with Priory Headquarters of the Venerable Order of St. John, proceeded to draw up a syllabus of training for ambulance-driving officers. It is hoped that it will be possible to institute this syllabus and the related training organisation in the coming financial year.