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Hato Hone St John

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Hato Hone St John
Formation30 April 1885
TypeCharitable organisation
PurposeProvide an ambulance service to New Zealand.
Headquarters2 Harrison Road, Ellerslie, Auckland
Location
  • New Zealand
Chief Executive
Peter Bradley
Websitewww.stjohn.org.nz

Hato Hone St John (also often referred to as St John Ambulance of New Zealand) is a charitable organisation providing healthcare services to the New Zealand public. The organisation provides ambulance services throughout New Zealand apart from the Greater Wellington Region and Wairarapa, as well as certain other health services.

History

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A branch of the St John Ambulance was first founded in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 30 April 1885.[1] It was decided to appoint the Governor (William Jervois) as president, and the mayors of Christchurch (Charles Hulbert), Sydenham (William White), and St Albans (Benjamin Bull) as vice-presidents.[1] Further branches quickly spread across the country providing first aid and patient transport and in 1946, due to the efforts of St John in New Zealand during the Second World War, the organisation was elevated to a full Priory, with the Governor-General of New Zealand as the Prior.[2]

During the 1970s and 1980s much restructuring took place in response to changing social and economic conditions, moving away from the traditional militaristic structure and resulting in the current modern organisation.

Today, Hato Hone St John is a major health service provider in New Zealand. It provides 90% of the emergency and non-emergency ambulance coverage for the New Zealand population,[3] emergency care and first aid at public events, support phone lines for the elderly and house-bound, hospital patient transport, public first aid training, health products and a youth programme.

In June 2020, Hato Hone St John announced that it would be laying off staff due to a NZ$30 million deficit caused by the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand.[4] The organisation had failed to secure a wage subsidy from the Government despite a 40% drop in income.[5]

In August 2024, Hato Hone St John ambulance workers and call centre staff affiliated with the New Zealand Ambulance Association and First Union New Zealand staged strikes on 20 and 24 August in response to a breakdown in pay negotiations with the ambulance service.[6][7] In mid-October 2024, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced that St John would receive an additional NZ$21 million in government funding.[8]

Services

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Ambulance services

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First Response Vehicle
Rapid Response Vehicle

Hato Hone St John provides ambulance services for approximately 90% of New Zealand's population. The only area where the organisation does not provide emergency ambulance services is the Greater Wellington region (specifically the areas of the former Capital and Coast, Hutt Valley, and Wairarapa DHBs), where Wellington Free Ambulance is the provider. Hato Hone St John treated or transported 469,850 patients in the year ending 30 June 2017, attending more than 389,350 emergency incidents. The 655 ambulances or operational vehicles, based at 205 stations, covered more than 18 million kilometres in the same time.[9]

Volunteers

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Hato Hone St John is a charitable organisation which relies on its volunteer workforce to deliver health services to the New Zealand population. Volunteers outnumber paid employees by around three to one. In 2017, 9,232 people volunteered for Hato Hone St John and the organisation had 3,033 paid staff. If the Hato Hone St John volunteer contribution was valued at normal commercial rates it would equate to $30 million.[9] St John volunteers receive specialised training and clinical education.

Funding

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Contracts with the Ministry of Health, ACC and district health boards fund just under 90% of the direct operating costs of the Hato Hone St John ambulance service as of 2022.[10]

The difference is made up from community and corporate donations, fund-raising, revenue from commercial activities (first aid kits, first aid training, medical alarms and defibrillators), as well as income from emergency ambulance part charges.

These activities also fund the delivery of non-ambulance services such as the Hato Hone St John Youth programmes, Friends of the Emergency Department, Hospital Friends, Caring Caller, Hato Hone St John Safe Kids and Outreach Therapy Pets.

ASB partnership

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St John stained-glass window in the Wellington Hospital chapel

In 2008, St John and ASB Bank initiated a partnership. The partnership helps to expand support for St John services and deliver programmes like CPR training on a wide scale. At the same time, the partnership gives ASB the opportunity to strengthen connections with local communities and give their employees the opportunity to get involved with community services by volunteering for St John.

The partnership was launched with ASB providing the opportunity for 1,000 school children at 10 schools to learn the lifesaving resuscitation skill CPR for free.[11]

The Order of St John

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Hato Hone St John in New Zealand has global links to the international Order of St John. His Majesty the King is Sovereign Head of the Order and the Governor-General of New Zealand is the head or Prior of St John in New Zealand.

In 1888, in recognition of its work, Queen Victoria made the Order of St John a Royal Order of Chivalry. In New Zealand, Royal Honours continue to be awarded to members for outstanding contributions and commitment to care for their communities. These Royal Honours are an independent part of the New Zealand Honours System. Honours are conferred annually at St John Investiture services.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "St John Ambulance Association". Star. No. 6288. 1 May 1885. p. 4. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
  2. ^ Hunt, Graeme (2009). First to Care. Auckland: Libro International. pp. 30, 147. ISBN 978-1-877514-03-6.
  3. ^ "St John wants cash from Govt doubled". The New Zealand Herald. 18 October 2007. Retrieved 12 November 2007.
  4. ^ "Covid 19 coronavirus: St John facing staff cuts, aims to save $30 million". New Zealand Herald. 10 June 2020. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  5. ^ Macfarlane, Andrew (10 June 2020). "Jobs will be lost as St John Ambulance looks to slash $30m due to Covid-19, CEO says in memo". 1News. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  6. ^ Hill, Ruth (20 August 2024). "'So united, so angry': St John ambulance workers strike". RNZ. Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  7. ^ "'Disappointed and gutted' - Ambulance workers on strike over pay". RNZ. 24 August 2024. Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Hato Hone St John to receive $21 million funding boost". Newstalk ZB. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  9. ^ a b St John Annual Report. 2017.
  10. ^ "St John publications". www.stjohn.org.nz. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  11. ^ "Local gym staff all heart, says Ken". Waikato Times. 22 August 2008. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
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