The award, which was presented last week, recognises distinguished individuals, groups and or organisations within healthcare and emergency services who demonstrate excellence in the acute management and care of road crash patients.
On July 18, 2024, emergency services and local healthcare teams responded to a major incident in which two buses carrying about 100 Chinese tourists crashed on an icy portion of State Highway 8 between Lake Tekapo and Twizel.
The Twizel Medical Centre’s Prime team was among the respondents and treated 46 of the passengers.
Prime operates as part of New Zealand’s rural emergency care network and involves specially trained rural clinicians in areas where traditional ambulance services may be geographically limited.
Through collaboration between primary care teams, ambulance services and the wider health system, the Prime programme continues to enhance the safety and resilience of rural communities by bringing skilled emergency care closer to home,” High Country Health Ltd chairman Simon Williamson said in a statement.
Waitaki MP Miles Anderson said the award was a fitting tribute to the ‘‘hard work, dedication and incredible professionalism of the staff and volunteers of Twizel Medical Centre’’.
Mackenzie District Mayor Scott Aronsen said the team’s response to the incident showed exceptional professionalism, leadership, and care under very challenging conditions.
‘‘It is something our whole district can be proud of.’’
The High Country Medical Trust is running a fundraiser for medical equipment and to build a garage to house its Prime vehicle. The garage would ensure Prime clinicians were not spending valuable time clearing snow or ice before heading to emergency situations.
