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Projects & Contemporary Issues -
New Zealand Ambulance Sector Strategy
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The draft sector strategy document from the National Ambulance Sector Office (the combined ACC/MoH body) is continuing to be reviewed by sector stakeholders. Facilitated meetings around New Zealand are attracting reasonable audiences to participate in the prioritisation and general discussion of the ten initiatives in the strategy.
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Initiative
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Key Components
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Importance
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1
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Provide accountable strategic management to deliver leadership to the sector, the form of which is yet to be defined.
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2
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Develop transparent sustainable funding models to meet the total cost of providing ambulance services.
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3
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Monitor audit and publish contractor performance through relevant KPI's, mandate NZS 8156, QA, rural/urban variance.
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4
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Develop a framework for community and key stakeholder involvement in the sector including resource allocation.
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*
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5
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Lift clinical standards, register Paramedics, determine the optimal clinical workforce, and improve career pathways.
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6
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Improve the ability of the sector to meet MCI/CD events, emergency service integration and community resilience.
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**
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7
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Improve and incentivise health care pathways of integration, expanded role Paramedics and improve clinical leadership.
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8
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Improve the research data set, integrate health care information, improve quality assurance activities.
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*
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9
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Review the configuration of ambulance services including the models used and rural/urban variance.
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10
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Establish an independent national clinical advisory group, improve EACC triage abilities and establish international links.
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*
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Some Thoughts on Prioritisation
All the identified initiatives are relevant, logical and necessary steps for the sector to take. We think that above all else we need to work out what we want/need to provide to deliver effective services. When we have the answers to the perfect system, we need to have an effective system to sustainably fund ambulance services. Once we have the funding to deliver our ideal system we need to make sure it is performing, constantly looking at ways to improve and is accountable to the funders and the public ultimately. We have initially ranked initiatives 2, 3, 5 and parts of 9 and 1 as the highest priority for the sector.
Our Concerns
The ambulance sector is full of groups with vested interests. This skews the viewpoint of the relative importance of each of the initiatives. The feedback we are receiving suggests that the NASO meetings have highlighted the need for sector coordination and leadership, well beyond individual organisational leadership. We think the most important initiative has not been identified - the need to develop a structure and a new independent entity to deliver all the initiatives. More commentary will be placed online shortly.
What Do You Think?
We want your feedback on how we should comment as a representative organisation. Do you agree with our initial commentary? What are your thoughts? What do you want us to promote? We need to know your feedback by no later than Friday December 5.
Add a comment specifically about the strategy and your concerns to this thread. We will use your feedback to construct a submission on behalf of NDU Ambulance Professionals.
Remember you can access the strategy and comment directly at http://naso.govt.nz/consultation as an individual by no later than December 12.
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Ambulance Strategy