New funding for St Johns Paramedics welcomed
Otaki MP Nathan Guy has welcomed $700,000 in new funding for the St John Urgent Community Care service in Horowhenua, announced by Prime Minister John Key on his visit today.
“This is a real boost for healthcare in Horowhenua and Otaki. St John have done an outstanding job with this service and it’s great this has been recognised by the Government.
“The UCC service means local people can be treated in their own home by highly skilled paramedics. As a result, fewer people need to make what can be a stressful and unnecessary trip to hospital.
“It’s also good for the taxpayer, freeing up capacity and resources in hospitals.
“This is especially important in our region because we have a number of elderly and vulnerable people, and Palmerston North hospital is nearly an hour’s drive away.
“The new funding will help St John make this programme sustainable into the long term, as a full evaluation will be completed.
“I’m very pleased I could show Prime Minister John Key the great work the paramedics are doing here and he was very impressed.
“This pilot focuses on the future of ambulance services, and ties in well with successful work of Wellington Free Ambulance in Kapiti,” says Mr Guy.