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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 660 asked in the Legislative Council on 23 June 2020 by Hon Martin Aldridge

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH — ST JOHN AMBULANCE CONTRACT

660. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Health:

I refer to the St John Ambulance WA contract that is due to expire on 30 June 2020.

(1) What is the current status of contract negotiations, and has the contract been extended beyond 30 June 2020?

(2) Why has St John Ambulance in recent years not been able to receive a contract beyond short-term extensions?

(3) Will the minister prioritise additional funding to boost community paramedics and patient transport capability in regional areas?

(4) How many of the 19 recommendations arising from the country ambulance strategy released in September 2018 have been implemented?

Hon ALANNA CLOHESY replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. I note that this question was submitted last week and an answer prepared on Tuesday, 16 June, so the answer is accurate as of that date.

(1) The Department of Health is currently in contract negotiations with St John Ambulance. It is not appropriate to provide comment until these processes are completed.

(2) The Department of Health has a strong and enduring partnership with St John Ambulance. Shorter extensions to the contract have been necessary due to the development of comprehensive strategies, including the country ambulance strategy, and, more recently, the COVID-19 public health emergency. This approach has ensured that the WA community has continued to have access to ambulance services, while also providing funding certainty to not-for-profit providers during the COVID-19 response. The Department of Health will continue to work with St John Ambulance on longer term contractual settings.

(3) The Department of Health is currently in contract negotiations with St John Ambulance. It is not appropriate to provide comment until these processes are completed.

(4) Work has commenced to progress 12 of the 19 recommendations, with a number of these contingent on contractual changes. Progress has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and contract negotiations.