St John provides ambulance services for approximately 85% of New Zealand's population. Each year, 700 paid and 2200 volunteer St John Ambulance Officers care for and save the lives of thousands of New Zealanders and visitors to the country.

To call for an ambulance in an emergency phone 111

All St John Ambulance Officers are trained under a nationally accredited training programme. After achieving the National Certificate in Ambulance (Patient Care & Transport), they progress through intravenous and cardiac qualifications to become St John Paramedics. Ambulance Officers who complete the National Diploma in Ambulance (Paramedic) then become Advanced Paramedics.  Ambulance officers also have the opportunity to complete the Bachelor of Health Science in Paramedic degree programme.

The St John Ambulance Service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Conventional ambulances, four-wheel drive vehicles, rapid response units, motorcycles and helicopters ensure St John will come to your aid at any hour of the day in almost any terrain, weather or situation. Our services are managed and directed to the site through Emergency Ambulance Communication Centres that despatch and coordinate all the emergency land, water and air ambulance services.

In addition to emergency ambulance services, St John also:

• Transports patients for arranged hospital admissions and to hospital outpatient clinics
• Transfers patients between hospitals or from hospital to home
• Assists police and fire services by providing medical cover in emergency situations
• Arranges and staffs air ambulance flights and connections
• Monitors personal medical alarms

St John ambulance services are funded by:

• Contracts with Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), Ministry of Health and District Health Boards
• Patient part charges for medical emergencies
• Patient full charges for non emergency (Private Hire) transports
• Community donations, fundraising and contributions from a range of commercial activities undertaken by St John

The categories for ambulance charges are:

1. Accident related ambulance services
   ACC covers the cost of ambulance transport for personal injury within 24 hours of the injury which meets the ACC criteria.
   
   For injuries older than 24 hours and those not meeting ACC criteria, there will be a part charge referred to under acute medical related ambulance services. Refer to the ACC website www.acc.co.nz for further information.
    
2. Acute medical related ambulance services - Patient Part Charges
   A part charge applies for ambulance attendance and/or transport for medical emergencies. A part charge also applies to accident related injuries that are older than 24 hours and injuries that do not meet ACC criteria.
   
   Also eligible for part charges:
   • Citizens from Niue, Tokelau, Cook Islands, Ross Dependency
   • NZ citizens residing overseas and returning for a visit
   • UK citizens normally residing in the UK and visiting NZ and seeking urgent medical treatment
   
   Citizens from all other countries including Australia pay the full cost of ambulance. Refer to the Ministry of Health website www.moh.govt.nz/eligibility for further information.
    
3. Ambulance Private Hire Charges
   The following transports incur a Private Hire Charge
   • To or from a private address including resthomes
   • To or from a hospital clinic (if not hospital authorised)
   • Discharge from hospital
   
   These are not covered by Government funding and incur a full charge. Invoicing is based on actual patient kilometres travelled.
    
4. Hospital Transfers
   The cost of ambulance transport ordered by a District Health Board (DHB) will be met by the DHB. If transport is not ordered by a DHB then a private hire charge will be incurred.

a) Accident Related Ambulance Services
No charge if ACC criteria met
b) Acute Medical Related Ambulance Services Patient Part Charges
Northern Region Auckland Northland Hauraki/Coromandel	$67.50 $45.00 $50.00
Midland Region	$54.00
Central Region MidCentral Health DHB area Hawkes Bay DHB area Whanganui DHB area	$45.00 $56.00 $45.00
Northern Region (SI)	$50.00
Southern Region	$54.00
Regional variations in part charge rates are due to contract arrangements with the Ministry of Health.
Acute Medical Related Ambulance Services
Non eligible visitors	$575.00

c) Ambulance Private Hire Charges
Tranports (Patient kms)	1 Oct 2006 - 30 June 2007	1 July 2007 - 30 June 2008
<= 35	$105	$133
36 - 100	$3.05 per km	$3.80 per km
101 - 400	$3.29 per km	$4.12 per km
400 +	$4.02 per km	$5.03 per km
Non eligible visitors Distances exceeding those specified are charged at transport rates above.	$575 min (up to 175 kms)	$575 min (up to 140kms)
Distances exceeding 100kms may incur additional costs

d) Hospital Transfer

No charge if hospital ordered and authorised.