Country Women’s Association of WA pushing for free ambulance service for all

The Country Women’s Association of WA has launched a campaign to make ambulance services free for all West Australians.

The CWA has launched a petition expressing “deep concern” about the cost of ambulances in WA and the “inadequate funding” for regional ambulance sub-centres.

The petition will be presented to WA’s Upper House, asking members for their support to ensure “ambulance services are made free at the point of use for all WA residents”.

Denmark CWA secretary Anne Konkel said anyone could need an ambulance at any time.

“It’s always been an expensive matter and to get an ambulance is quite off-putting to people,” she said.

“I know a long time ago, my father needed an ambulance but he was telling me ‘no, no I can’t afford it’, but I said he had to have one and that was that.

“Your health should always be number one, without your health you are nothing.

“If you’ve gotten to the point of needing an ambulance you’ve already done everything you can.”

A levy on utilities helps cover the cost of ambulance services in Queensland, which are free for the State’s residents.

Tasmanian residents can also access free ambulance services

The remaining States and Territories, including WA, continue to run user-fee models.

WA pensioners aged over 65 are entitled to free ambulance services for “medically necessary” reasons, while those who do not receive a pension are entitled to a 50 per cent discount.

The CWA petition also asks for a guarantee that “regional ambulance sub-centres are appropriately funded and resourced to meet the needs of their communities”.

A parliamentary inquiry into the delivery of ambulance services in WA found that regional communities “do not have guaranteed access to ambulances services” and that 98.5 per cent of the State was not subject to target ambulance response times.

The inquiry’s final report, which was tabled in May, also indicated a continued reliance on volunteers to perform ambulance services was “not sustainable”.

Mrs Konkel said her branch regularly donated to St John WA because they were a valuable part of the community.

“Their fundraising money should go to something else instead of trying to keep the ambulance afloat,” she said.

“The regions — just simply by way of the distance they have to cover to start with — need all of the support they can get.

“I’m sure there is some part of the State Government coffers that can go toward ambulance services.”

A St John WA spokesman said the not-for-profit organisation appreciated the value and focus being placed on ambulance services, especially in regional areas.

He said the organisation often used community fundraising efforts to expand its services.

“For example, in York, the local sub-centre is actively raising funds to launch a new community transport service which helps people get to and from medical appointments,” he said.

“In Esperance, the team is raising funds for an entire new sub-centre. It’s tough work but the rewards are worth it.

“In addition, busy sub-centres often fund equipment for other, quieter regions ensuring the 145 volunteer dispatch locations are sufficiently resourced to respond to triple-0 calls.”

Mrs Konkel said in her experience volunteer ambulance officers were “marvellous people.”

“If you need them in the middle of the night then they go into the station to collect their things and the ambulance, then away they go,” she said.

“They never ever complain.

“It’s a vital, vital service and we can’t live without it.”

A State Government spokeswoman said an additional $30.1 million had been committed over four years in the May State Budget to deliver more paid paramedics and ambulances in regional WA.

“The WA Country Health Service, in collaboration with SJA, have already delivered additional ambulance capacity — including 26 extra paramedics deployed across country WA,” she said.

CWA’s petition can be signed online until October 11 at bit.ly/3S6REVU.