Government told to include fully-funded ambulance service in health reform

The government is being advised that its huge health system overhaul should include a fully funded ambulance service, RNZ reports. In countries like the United Kingdom and Canada, ambulances are paid for by their governments, but here in Aotearoa, the St John service relies in part on donations and volunteers. According to First Union, the upcoming Health New Zealand initiative – which will see the district health boards turned into a single entity – is an opportune moment for change.