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.