Fund our ambulance services.

A woman, lying on the floor, unable to stand, barely able to speak. Begging us not to call an ambulance because she can't afford it. 
Sounds like something from the USA, right? From their unfunded nightmare of a system where only the rich get healthcare. 
That could never happen in Aotearoa right? 
Right? 
Except it did. It does. 
For those on the lowest incomes, on benefits, etc, an ambulance bill can be an entire week's income. That's not okay. 
Fully cover fees for ambulance trips, at the very least for community service card holders. (and not by getting winz to put them in disability allowance, not only is that a massive hassle, but lots of disabled people already have their disability allowances maxxed out, plus it pays after the fact)

Also, if people wanted to work long hours for free, while being under-appreciated, screamed at, bitten, sworn at, thrown up on, and cleaning up various bodily fluids, they'd become parents. So why on earth do our ambulances have to use volunteer paramedics. How is 'volunteer paramedic' even a phrase that we have in our language. 
Why is an essential, respected, life saving service not fully funded in a country that supposedly has publicly funded healthcare????
Fund the ambulance services. All of them. For the whole country. 

Why the contribution is important

Well, it would seem that if you want a great healthcare system, it would be cool if people didn't drop dead before they could get to where that healthcare system was located. 

by AceTimelord on March 11, 2023 at 06:51AM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.5
Based on: 9 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Kiera82 March 14, 2023 at 00:42

    Agreed, get rid of St John so it can be a fully funded service called the NZ ambulance service..., have had past issues with st John and discrimination too (it is at its root still a Christian order and we know how they are with the lgbtqia community...), They only want the charity status so they don't have to pay tax and all since they are a church charity too, needs to change quick smart

  • Posted by AceTimelord March 14, 2023 at 22:44

    Ugh, I didn't know that about St John, but it sadly doesn't surprise me. What if we say... taxed the church organisation and used that money to.... oh I don't know... run an ambulance service...
    A free ambulance is clearly completely doable, because Wellington Free Ambulance is a thing. I have no idea what they are like human rights wise, but I have had such a feeling of relief since moving to Welly.

  • Posted by Bware March 25, 2023 at 08:16

    We do fund them, but through a back door via Work and Income paying absurd amounts for medical alarms.
    Needs to be through the health budget and transparent

  • Posted by listay1 March 29, 2023 at 15:37

    Wellington Free Ambulance is a far better service, but it to needs massive funding.

    Getting an ambulance and gear from lotto winners does a lot of good, but like everything, new, up to date gear is always needed too!
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