The Western Australian government has announced an additional $149.6 million in funding allocations for St John Ambulance Emergency Medical Services (EMS) over four years, which will result in 25 new vehicles, more staff and improvements to the St John Ambulance communication centre.

WA Health Minister Kim Hames said the funding allocated in the 2010-11 budget would address the 13 recommendations of the 2009 St John Ambulance Inquiry, which aimed to improve the St John service. The final report mirrored many of the proposals advanced in the ACAP submission available here.

Details of the Minister’s statement on funding are available here.

The National President of the Australian College of Ambulance Professionals (ACAP) Mr Ian Patrick said that the profession is pleased to see these developments which should enable better support for paramedics and thus improved patient outcomes.

The availability of expert paramedics is especially critical for rural and more remote areas where there is often no access to alternate qualified services. It is hoped this funding will increase the number of paramedics and their professional development support especially in rural and remote areas.

The paramedic profession is acutely aware of the public expectation that EMS is a basic service which should be available to all Australian communities. This concern for universal access had also been recognised by key bodies such as the Australian Heart Foundation.

While Mr Patrick welcomed the WA State government funding as setting a lead for other jurisdictions, he added that all States and Territories needed to take action to ensure the long term national funding of EMS and the national registration of paramedics.

This is necessary to ensure universal and equitable access to EMS within a health system that delivers seamless high quality patient care, as part of government’s broad commitment to the community.