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.