On Call 24/7
An Incorporated Society run by its own board of management, Wellington Free Ambulance is an essential service provider, committed to providing the highest quality clinical care in emergency situations, pre-hospital care, and rescue services.
To provide this service WFA has more than 200 staff, including:
82 Paramedics
4 Team Managers Operations (TMOs)
28 Emergency Medical Dispatchers (EMDs)
4 Team Managers Communications (TMCs)
33 managerial and administrative
55 Voluntary staff
Without volunteer ambulance officers, WFA would not be able to provide the level of care it currently does.
Each year we assist over 40,000 patients (an average of 112 people per day) from our eight ambulance bases.
WFA covers the area from just north of Waikanae, across to the top of the Rimutaka Hill and down to Cook Strait (approximately 4,000 kilometres), a population of approximately 412,000 people.
Technology
WFA maintains a position of leadership in the area of communications through investment in leading edge technology (for example GPS automatic vehicle locating), matched by highly trained communication staff.
In addition, our frontline ambulances are equipped with up-to-date equipment, to ensure that our paramedics continue to provide the highest quality of paramedical care.
Wellington Free Ambulance prides itself on being a future focussed organisation.
Liaison With Other Emergency Providers
WFA maintains very close relationships with other emergency service providers. Whenever the Westpac Rescue helicopter is called to assist in a medical or accident emergency, a WFA Paramedic is always on board to provide in-flight continuous medical care in addition to at scene assistance.
In 2005, WFA and St John established a joint venture company - Central Emergency Communications Ltd - to provide ambulance communication centre services as part of a project that has seen the eight ambulance communications centres in New Zealand reduced to three.
WFA also has an agreement with the NZ Fire Service where fire crews will be dispatched in life-threatening situations where they are able to the patient quicker than paramedics.
WFA maintains its own specially trained Rescue squad. This squad works closely with Police Search and Rescue and is used for any situation where patient recovery requires four wheel driving, rope or winching techniques. The squad responds to anything from off road car crashes, to construction site rescues, boats swept onto rocks and tramping search and rescue missions.
Education
In 2002, Wellington Free Ambulance established the first ambulance-based Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedic) course in conjunction with Victoria University Melbourne, supported by Whitireia Polytechnic.
The programme offers school leavers, current ambulance officers and members of the public the opportunity to gain an internationally recognised qualification. This degree programme is now provided by Whitireia Polytechnic, with WFA paramedics acting as tutors.
On the water WFA provides occasionally paramedic crewing to the Police launch, Lady Elizabeth and also joins New Zealand Coast Guard vessels for emergency work at sea.
WFA has a close working relationship with Police, New Zealand Fire Service, Airport Fire Service, Civil Defence, WEMO, WRC, Red Cross and neighbouring ambulance services.
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Services We Provide  |
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