Extra staff for ambulance service

Health minister Kim Hames today announced details of extra staffing for St John Ambulance, following a review of the agency's performance as the outsourced provider of ambulance services in WA.

Dr Hames said more than 309 additional paramedics and officers would be recruited to the State's ambulance service over the next four years as part of the response to the review.

The minister today released the 'St John Ambulance Inquiry - implementation of recommendations completion report' which he said was the latest step in improving emergency health care across Western Australia.

"This report signals the end of a long journey to rebuild public confidence in WA's ambulance service," he said.

"Since 2009, the State Government has been working closely with St John Ambulance to boost funding, add resources, rebuild staff morale and ultimately improve services to patients in need of emergency care throughout WA.

"All 13 recommendations made in the initial independent review have been addressed, resulting in everything from new IT systems to more staff, more ambulances and new safety and quality monitoring to make sure the sorts of cases we heard about during the ABC's Four Corners' program two years ago do not happen again."

The Minister said extra services have been largely funded by the $149.6 million over four years for emergency ambulances services announced in the 2010-11 Budget.

St John Ambulance chief executive Tony Ahern welcomes the release of the report.

"The report concludes that St John Ambulance WA operates the most efficient and cost effective ambulance service nationally," he said.

"The report clearly demonstrates the ways in which St John Ambulance has addressed, and continues to address, all 13 recommendations put forward in the review.

"Furthermore, it acknowledges that these initiatives are ongoing, meaning we will continue to work closely with the Department of Health to ensure St John Ambulance is continuously improving the way it operates its ambulance service across WA.

"The initial review prompted a significant financial commitment from the State Government which has allowed St John Ambulance to boost staffing levels and begin building on the required ambulance capacity to service both metropolitan and country areas."