Senior Department of Health and WA Police representatives will be stationed at St John Ambulance headquarters to assist the service and ensure appropriate co-ordination of the emergency response.
From tomorrow, two senior health officers, including Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Tudor Codreanu and two highly experienced WA Police officers, will assist St John on the ground and provide immediate logistical support.
This unprecedented action, taken in collaboration with St John, will ensure the response can be bolstered immediately and will support St John to fully activate its Business Continuity Plan, providing certainty to the Government and the public during the current Omicron wave.
The McGowan Government is working closely with St John to address staff furlough pressures due to COVID-19 infections and response times.
St John has already commenced improved and timely information sharing with the State Government.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
“What happened on the weekend is unacceptable and an immediate response is required.
“There is no doubt staff furlough pressures due to the pandemic can be challenging, but our ambulance service must adapt and be there for the community.
“My Government is committed to doing everything within its power to support St John to meet their obligations and the expectations of the community.
“This unprecedented action will see people who have been key to our pandemic response support St John through this time and I am grateful for their assistance and expertise.
“We continue to explore what other measures can be taken to ensure the incidents we have seen in recent weeks are never repeated.”
As stated by Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
“It is absolutely imperative that when someone needs an ambulance in an emergency, that one arrives.
“Our paramedics and 000 call takers do an amazing job for our community and we want to give them all the support they need at this very challenging time.
“We are working closely to support St John, and this multi-agency response will help them on the ground and ensure their full Business Continuity Plan is enacted.
“I’d like to thank Dr Tudor Codreanu and WA Police for assisting with this most critical operation.”
