Report 5

Delivering WA’s Ambulance Services

Recommendations

To improve effectiveness and accountability when contracting for ambulance services WA Health should:

  • develop and agree with SJA a new funding model for emergency ambulance services focusing on standards, performance and allocation of risk
  • collate and centrally monitor financial data including the cost to government of IHPT
  • include in contracts minimum standards for emergency and secondary ambulance services and effective mechanisms to monitor these
  • require service providers to report more comprehensive performance data using additional cost and clinical indicators
  • re-engage with SJA at a senior level to address strategic and complex issues including long term solutions to ramping
  • develop criteria with SJA for the allocation of paramedics across the state
  • consider publishing information on SJA’s complaints processes to assist WA Health staff.

To improve delivery of ambulance services SJA should:

  • carry out targeted clinical audits in volunteer country sub-centres until longer term solutions are in place
  • develop quantitative performance targets for community paramedics and report these to WA Health
  • explore opportunities for extending the community paramedic model to other areas of identified need
  • build on its regionalisation model and improve engagement with local services in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions
  • ensure the positive gains in clinical governance achieved since the Inquiry become embedded throughout the whole organisation.
Page last updated: August 8, 2018

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