On International Paramedics Day, Hato Hone St John and Wellington Free Ambulance are highlighting the evolving role of paramedics as they respond to patients with increasingly complex health needs.
The annual event is celebrated on 8 July, to mark the anniversary of the birth of Dominique-Jean Larrey, who is widely regarded as the father of modern-day ambulance services.
Both emergency ambulance service providers say this year's theme, Innovate and Integrate, reflects the increasingly important role paramedics play within modern health systems, delivering advanced clinical care, supporting patients in their communities, and helping ensure people receive timely, high-quality care.
Doug Gallagher, Hato Hone St John Director of Ambulance Operations says all ambulance personnel are essential to New Zealand's health workforce and play an important role in improving patient outcomes. "Every day, our people respond to medical emergencies, falls, cardiac arrests, major trauma, and mental health crises, providing expert clinical care when people need it most.”
Mr Gallagher says demand continues to grow year on year as the population ages and healthcare needs become more complex. Every day, close to 2,000 calls are made for an ambulance. Last year, 111 calls for an ambulance reached a record 706,194 nationwide, up nearly 30 percent over five years.
At the same time, paramedics are playing a broader role across the health system, assessing, treating and supporting patients in their homes and communities, helping to reduce unnecessary transfers to emergency departments. "Ambulance personnel are not simply transporting patients to hospitals; they are highly skilled healthcare professionals helping people access the right care, in the right place, at the right time,” says Mr Gallagher.
International Paramedics Day is a reminder that sustained investment is essential. "Ambulance services are critical health infrastructure. Sustained investment supports faster responses, stronger clinical capability, workforce development and equitable access to care for communities across New Zealand,” says Mr Gallagher.
Jon Moores, Hato Hone St John Deputy Chief Executive – Clinical Services says International Paramedics Day is also an opportunity to recognise paramedicine as an exciting and rewarding career. “It is a profession built on compassion, clinical excellence and service, with growing opportunities to specialise, lead, teach and undertake research.”
Mr Moores says innovation, research and evidence-based practice is helping to shape the future of paramedicine. "Our clinical research focuses on areas where we can make the greatest difference for our patients and the communities we serve, including improving survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and reducing the impact of falls, which is one of the leading causes of injury and hospitalisation for older New Zealanders.
"Research and innovation are helping ensure our patients receive the best possible care while supporting a more effective and sustainable health system,” says Mr Moores.
Eric Tibbott, Wellington Free Ambulance General Manager Operations, says that Wellington Free Ambulance and the paramedic profession have changed significantly over the years. “Growing demand for ambulance services and changing community needs has influenced the role of paramedics today. This year’s International Paramedics Day theme to ‘Innovate and Integrate’ reflects that evolution in how paramedics deliver care, but it also highlights where we must remain focused to meet the needs of current and future communities.”
This is echoed by Dr Erica Douglass, Wellington Free Ambulance Executive Medical Director, who says the impact of paramedics extends far beyond emergency response. “They’re highly skilled clinicians who make critical decisions, administer a wide range of medicines and treatments, perform complex procedures, and help connect patients with the wider healthcare system. They play an important role in improving health outcomes. Whether that’s responding to emergencies in ambulances, providing expert tele-health advice over the phone through our Clinical Hub, or delivering care closer to home across the region.
“International Paramedics Day is a way to recognise and thank all paramedics for their dedication, clinical expertise, and compassion that they bring to their work every day. Thank you for the difference you make in moving our communities to better health,” says Dr Douglass.
ENDS
About Hato Hone St John:
- Hato Hone St John provides emergency ambulance services to 90 percent of people in New Zealand across 97 percent of the country.
- Hato Hone St John is made up of a mix of full-time paid staff and volunteers.
- Along with the emergency ambulance service, Hato Hone St John operates a significant number of community health programmes and other activities which help build community resilience. They include Waka Ora Health Shuttles, ASB Caring Caller, St John Youth, and St John in Schools.
- Hato Hone St John also delivers event health services, medical alarm services, first aid training, and operates retail stores across the country.
About Wellington Free Ambulance:
- Wellington Free Ambulance is the only emergency ambulance service for Greater Wellington and Wairarapa. They provide services free of charge and operate 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.
- As well as providing emergency ambulance services (over 55,000 incidents annually), Wellington Free also provides a Patient Transfer Service (over 43,000 transfers annually).
- The Clinical Communications Centre at Wellington Free Ambulance in Thorndon is one of three in New Zealand, answering non-urgent and emergency 111 calls (over 236,000 calls annually).
- Wellington Free Ambulance Event Medics provide medical support at over 500 events across the region including sporting events, concerts, and festivals.
- Thanks to cornerstone partner Julie Nevett and The Lloyd Morrison Foundation, Wellington Free Ambulance provides vital life-saving CPR training across schools, businesses and community groups, free of charge. In the last year, over 9,100 people were trained between the ages of 5-75.
For further information please contact:
Hato Hone St John media team
PH: 0800 756 334 | E: media@stjohn.org.nz | Other resources: Media Releases | Image Gallery
Wellington Free Ambulance media team
PH: 021 384 571 | E: media@wfa.org.nz