13 July 2007
The New Zealand Standard for ambulance services was introduced in 2002 as a first attempt at providing a national benchmark for all ambulance providers. It established guidelines for the provision of services that are safe and reliable, and efficient in the use of public funds and donated services.
To reflect the changing needs of this vital service, Ambulance New Zealand agreed that the Standard would be revised within three years of its introduction.
David Waters, Chief Executive, Ambulance New Zealand says, ‘The revised Standard will be essential to the future of ambulance service provision in New Zealand. It will underpin a number of major initiatives currently being developed or considered by the sector. It is anticipated that once finalised the Standard will provide essential baseline requirements for the delivery of ambulance services’.
‘Additionally, a number of major reviews of the air ambulance sector currently being conducted will look to the Standard for guidance. The Standard also contributes significantly to the establishment of key systems that will underpin the ambulance sector’s application for health professional recognition under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003.’
‘The revised Standard is a testament to the dedication and commitment of the sector to provide New Zealanders with an integrated ambulance service worthy of patients’ confidence and trust – through the demonstration of clinical safety, reliability, efficiencies and effectiveness.’
Jane Dawson, Chair of the Ambulance Services Committee, says ‘The development of this Standard is a great example of a diverse range of stakeholders taking a collaborative approach to find solutions that enhance and maintain these essential public services.
‘Combined with the efforts of key stakeholders, it is also important to acknowledge the competence and commitment of Standards New Zealand staff who successfully manage the complicated process of reaching a consensus on Standard solutions,’ says Ms Dawson.
The revised Standard is scheduled for publication by September 2007.
Standards help all New Zealanders by making life simpler and safer. They improve the effectiveness and reliability of many goods and services we use every day. Standards New Zealand is increasingly working across diverse subject areas, with Standards in health and disability, engineering, sport and recreation, energy efficiency, and fertility services to name a few.
For more information contact:
Annie Lattey, Communications Manager, Standards New Zealand
Tel +64 4 498 3986 M+64 21 908 821 email: annie.lattey@standards.co.nz
Background information NZS 8156:2002 Ambulance service sector Standard
Background of original Standard
In the absence of any specific legislation covering the means by which ambulance services are organised, funded, and provided, there was an opportunity for relevant stakeholders to ensure that the public, funders, consumers, and patients in particular, can have confidence in their local ambulance service.
The development of NZS 8156:2002 Ambulance service sector Standard brought together a wide range of interests and perspectives to ensure that the services available are capable and competent. The Standard established guidelines against which ambulance services can demonstrate their capabilities.
Why is the Standard being revised?
When the Standard was first published, it was recognised that a review would be required in three years, to refine the Standard based on feedback from early implementation experiences. Feedback from the sector confirmed the need for a revised Standard.
As part of the revision, Ambulance New Zealand consulted with ambulance providers to canvas their opinion on whether the national benchmark needed to be changed. Feedback received covered requirements for crewing, the need to specify clinical competency instead of job titles, and the requirements for air ambulance services.
The revised Standard is being divided into a range of sections to cover land, air, and communications. In addition the revision will:
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redefine quality and safety requirements for land and air ambulance services
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include a separate section for air ambulance services, to provide more clarity about which parts of the Standard are appropriate for air services
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increase emphasis on communications centres, as these have been substantially modified since 2002 and now represent international best practice, which needs to be reflected in the revised Standard
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provide up-to-date guidelines for ambulance services and contribute to safe, reliable, and efficient benchmarking standards that will allow appropriate measurement of service delivery.
Who will use the Standard?
This Standard applies to all types of road vehicle where ambulance provision is the primary capability of the vehicle and to aircraft specifically equipped for ambulance provision when being used for that purpose.
The Standard covers road and air ambulance and paramedical emergency services, and outlines the minimum standards required to provide safe, reliable, and efficient services, and applies to any organisation that:
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provides an emergency ambulance service
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provides a paramedical or commercial services for events such as concerts
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provides an ambulance service to transport acute or admitted hospital patients
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uses the expression ambulance, paramedic, or medic to describe its services
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operates an Emergency Ambulance Communication Centre (EACC).
The Standard:
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Covers equipment and transport safety, service and crewing capability, emergency ambulance communication centres, management practices, consumer rights, and risk management processes.
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Describes three ‘scopes of practice’:
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Each organisation’s medical director must approve a ‘scope of practice’ for individual practitioners based on their education, clinical competence, and experience – this process provides the practitioner with a ‘delegated scope of practice’.
Note: This Standard does not apply to, Basic first aid provision, PRIME Practitioners, Fire Service Medical Responses, or Search and Rescue operations.
Implementation of the Standard
At the second post-public comment meeting the committee discussed suggestions on implementation of the Standard. Members of the committee submitted a range of good suggestions. In general four opportunities to work with the sector on good implementation were identified. These included:
Standards New Zealand met with Ambulance New Zealand in May 2007 to explore options to develop a new audit tool and implementation guidelines as the next stage in this work.
Carolyn Gay, Senior Project Manager at Standards New Zealand says, ‘It is important that the end user has the necessary tools and resources to understand and implement the Standard'.
‘Based on the capacity of new guidelines to include a number of practical examples, such material will provide excellent guidance and support for organisations and auditors to meet the various requirements of the new Standard,’ says Ms Gay.
The Standard is scheduled to be published by September 2007.