AMBULANCES — NEW
SERVICE AGREEMENT
112. Hon ALISON XAMON to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the procurement of
ambulance services in WA.
(1) What is the time frame for the
new service agreements to be established?
(2) Is the issue of the cost to consumers of
ambulance services being considered as part of the procurement process?
(3) Will the government consider providing free
ambulance services for people on concession cards, consistent with other
Australian jurisdictions?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
Hon ALANNA
CLOHESY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) The current service agreement
with St John Ambulance expires on 30 June 2020.
(2) The
Department of Health has engaged the Health Consumers' Council to
undertake extensive consumer engagement to inform the design of future
ambulance services. This includes consideration of cost issues for consumers. The outcomes of that consultation
are under active consideration by the Department of Health.
(3) The issue will be considered as
part of the overall approach to funding ambulance services.
(4) Not applicable.