South’s ambulance calls increase

St John was called out more than 36,000 times in Otago and Southland last year - a 6.9% increase from 2018 - as the lower South Island eclipsed the increase in demand for ambulance services nationally of about 4%.

Information the emergency service organisation released yesterday showed double-digit increases in the South in callouts for breathing problems, falls and traumatic injuries.

• Every day different for medical technician

St John operations director Norma Lane said in addition to the increased number of callouts, ambulance officers were attending ‘‘more complex cases’’.

‘‘It can take time to stabilise and treat patients with serious and complex conditions, meaning ambulances are not available to respond as quickly to the next call.’’

Nationally, ambulances were fully crewed 97% of the time and the organisation was on track for all ambulances to be double crewed in 2021, Ms Lane said.

St John had 712 ambulances and operational vehicles, 1333 paid ambulance officers and 3335 volunteers, a spokeswoman said.

In Otago and Southland there were 248 paid ambulance officers and 482 volunteers, 15 ambulances and 16 first response units.

The statistics for 2019 showed an increase on 2018 figures for callouts for GP referrals, up 5.7% to 6684; breathing problems, up 12.3% to 2767; falls or back injuries, up 13.3% to 4066; and traumatic injuries, up 14.8% to 1561.

Callouts for stabbings or gunshot wounds in Otago and Southland dropped 27.9% from 43 in 2018 to 31 in 2019.

Nationally, calls for mental health related incidents increased by 10% in 2019. The group with the greatest increase was those aged 70-79, but the number of men calling for mental health reasons also increased, and now made up 47% of all mental health callouts, up from 39% in 2018.

A breakdown of those numbers for Otago and Southland alone were not available yesterday.

The overall number of callouts in Otago and Southland rose from 34,024 in 2018 to 36,383 last year.

St John

In Otago and Southland, 2019

• 248 paid ambulance officers, 482 volunteers
• 15 ambulances
• 16 first response units
• Called out 36,000 times
• Most callouts: GP referrals
• Biggest increase: traumatic injuries (up 14.8% to 1561 calls)

How it operates

• St John provides emergency ambulance services to 90% of New Zealanders and covers 97% of the country’s geographical area
• St John received more than 500,000 calls to 111 centres in the past financial year (ended June 2019)
• St John staff includes full-time paid employees and volunteers
• St John has contracts with the Ministry of Health and ACC that fund about 72% of the operating costs for the ambulance service. The remaining 28% is funded through emergency ambulance part charges, fundraising and donations.

Source: St John