Hato Hone St John has recorded it’s busiest month ever – with more than 50,000 ambulance incidents recorded in August.
Acting DCE Ambulance Operations Rosanne Shaw said winter often brought higher demand, but said this year there had been “unprecedented demand”.
“We have seen a significant rise in respiratory-related emergencies. In the past year, ambulance crews responded to almost 6000 cases of breathing difficulties, up 33% on the 12-month average,” she said.
Despite the soaring demand for ambulances, the agency said it had also been helping to reduce pressure on emergency departments through other initiatives.
Shaw said one of these was implementing the Government-funded 24/7 online GP service, launched by Health NZ in mid-2025 to ease pressures.
“Each day, around 350 patients who may otherwise go to EDs are instead either being safely managed at home, or are being referred to community health services, by our paramedics on scene or remotely by a team of health professionals via phone, using care pathways and telehealth support.”
Dr Damian Tomic, deputy chief executive of clinical services, said the initiative was already proving valuable.
“It means patients get timely care that’s right for their needs, freeing up our ambulance crews to focus on the most urgent emergencies.
“It’s a win for patients, hospitals, and the wider health system. We are working on establishing referral pathways to the new service for patients who, following triage – do not require an ambulance,” Tomic said.
