11 July 2018

NZCT recently awarded St John Central Region $185,000 to buy a new ambulance and stretcher for the Gisborne area. This grant helps St John meet the increasing demand on ambulance services and contributes to improving health services in the region.

St John Central Region has two emergency service ambulances and a Patient Transfer Service (PTS) ambulance in the Gisborne area. NZCT's grant has allowed the organisation to replace one of the emergency services ambulances that has reached the end of its life as an emergency service vehicle. St John District Operations Manager, Jeremy Gooders says: "Our ambulances play a vital role in meeting the growing need for services in the region. Not only are our ambulances attending more incidents every day, they also travel further distances to get to our patients.

"The new Gen 3 ambulance and PowerLoad Stryker Stretcher have already attended 70 call-outs since the ambulance took to the road at the end of June. Being able to provide care and treatment to patients as rapidly as possible is vital in emergency situations. Reliable vehicles are essential for rural and isolated communities," continues Jeremy. "The new PowerLoad Stryker Stretcher makes it easier for our ambulance officers to lift patients into the ambulance, providing a better standard of health, safety and wellbeing for our ambulance officers and volunteers."

NZCT has also donated a new, fully-kitted out Gen 2 ambulance that is already serving the wider Kawerau urban and rural communities. "St John receives around 75% government funding and relies on grants like these to help with the costs of ambulances and lifesaving equipment. We are very grateful to NZCT for its support in the Gisborne area."

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