The St John emergency ambulance patient part charge will increase by $10 from
1 August 2016, due to rising demand and increases in the operating costs of the ambulance service.
St John charges a part charge to patients who are treated by an ambulance officer or are transported in an ambulance because of a medical emergency. In the case of accident-related injuries that meet Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) criteria, ACC pays the part charge.
St John’s ambulance part charge has been $88 since 1 April 2014. Effective 1 August 2016, it will increase to $98 (incl GST). The cost to St John of a typical emergency ambulance call out is $615 (incl GST) based on attending 366,375 emergency incidents a year (2014/15 data).
St John provides emergency ambulance services to nearly 90% of New Zealanders in 97% of New Zealand’s geographical area, and is facing increasing demand. Since 1 April 2014, the number of 111 emergency ambulance calls has increased by 12%, from 425,817 for the year ending 30 March 2014, to 475,484 for the year ending 30 March 2016.
Around 70% of the operating costs of St John’s ambulance service are provided by the Ministry of Health, ACC and District Health Boards. The 30% shortfall needs to be covered from other income sources; these include ambulance part charges, fundraising, and contribution from commercial activities such as first aid training and medical alarms.
Customers who belong to the St John Supporter Scheme receive free medical emergency ambulance attendance and transport (if required) in return for an annual fee. Any excess funds are put towards the purchase of ambulances and other lifesaving equipment.
The Supporter Scheme costs $50 annually for an individual, $65 for a joint subscription (two people living permanently at the same address), and $80 for a household subscription (three or more people living permanently at the same address). For more information, visit www.stjohn.org.nz/join
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rachel Lorimer
St John Head of Communications
T 09 526 0528 I X 8095 I F 09 526 0553 | M 021 436 503 | E rachel.lorimer@stjohn.org.nz