First to care but it comes at a price

An increase in demand for St John ambulances in the Western Bay of Plenty has prompted a hike in fees for most patients.

From April 1, the ambulance service's part charges will rise from $67 to $80. On April 1, 2013, the charges will go up to $84, reaching $88 on April 1, 2014.

Part charges traditionally apply to ambulance attendance and/or transport for medical emergencies plus accident-related injuries older than 24 hours. The charges do not include immediate accidents, which are free.

St John chief executive Jaimes Wood said the charges reflected the increasing demand placed on St John ambulances. During the past four years, the number of Western Bay of Plenty patients served each year by St John had grown 14 per cent.

St John was a charity reliant on community financial backing and voluntary support. It faced constant funding challenges, Mr Wood said.

"Our costs rise as demand for ambulance services provided by St John continues to grow at a rate in excess of population growth, as we cope with factors such as chronic illness, an ageing population, and social factors such as an increase in drug and alcohol misuse, which are not fully compensated for with funding increases," Mr Wood said.

The total cost of an average ambulance callout was about $680.

While the Ministry of Health, ACC and district health boards funded about 80 per cent of operating costs, the shortfall was made up from community donations, fundraising and volunteer contributions. Nationally, St John has a shortfall of about $17 million.

Age Concern Tauranga branch manager Mike Tyrer said the increase would be sorely felt among the city's elderly.

"I would suggest that it would impact quite dramatically," Mr Tyrer said.

Age Concern Tauranga chairwoman Angela Scott agreed.

"I think St John do a marvellous job. They operate a good service and we feel for them. I'm sure they don't want to put their charges up but, unfortunately, it could have an impact on people with fixed incomes."

Western Bay of Plenty Grey Power acting president Warren Townsend said there was a way around being caught out paying the extra charges.

"If you join St John for $35 then you only pay a minimal amount if you need calling out. But if you are not a member, you will have to pay the full charge and that's where the increase is."

Mr Townsend said a St John spokesman attended the last Grey Power meeting and explained how the part charge was waived as part of the St John Supporter Scheme.

"I would recommend it, definitely, for all people. It's like a cheap insurance," Mr Townsend said.

Elmswood Rest Home facility manager Rosa Wallace said the business, like many rest homes, absorbed any charges from ambulances.

"Usually we use our own transport. If it's not an emergency situation, we take them ourselves."

WHAT IS ST JOHN?

• 
  St John provides emergency and non-emergency ambulance services for about 90 per cent of New Zealand's population.
• 
  St John also provides emergency care and first aid at public events.
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  Ambulances regularly transport people to their health appointments.
• 
  St John has provided ambulance services in New Zealand since 1885.

By the numbers:

Number of emergency incidents attended to by St John ambulances in the Western Bay of Plenty:

• 
  2008 - 13,349
• 
  2009 - 14,048
• 
  2010 - 14,730
• 
  2011 - 15,269