More Top Stories

Local

Top cop position advertised

7 December 2024

Culture
Church Talk
Court
Economy
Economy
Economy
Economy
Education

Letter: Stationing ambulances strategically can save lives

Wednesday 10 July 2024 | Written by Supplied | Published in Letters to the Editor, Opinion

Share

Letter: Stationing ambulances strategically can save lives

Dear Editor, Here’s my comment on “Emergency response time questioned” and Secretary of Health Bob Williams’ reply.

I am an American expat and have been living on the island for one and a half years. Unlike US and other developed countries and their emergency response time, the Cook Islands have limited resources. It was unfortunate that the incident occurred in Muri, which is further away from the hospital.

While sending my prayers to the victim’s family, I am wondering what about future solutions? Can an ambulance be stationed in the Muri area? What about Avaavaroa Passage down south?

Not just drowning victims but it makes better sense to strategically spread the ambulances across the island to cut down on critical response time. Each village has their own clinic and while the Ministry of Health is getting 24 million dollars to improve health facilities, I would like to see some expansion in the emergency response unit, which will save lives.

(Name and address supplied)

Comments

graham roper on 10/07/2024

Evidence shows the TMO , led by Williams has no desire to improve pre hospital emergency care. Nor has the Government evidenced by the spending of $1.7 million on cars nobody wants, needs in a display to arrogance and entitlement by the PM in November (PIF). Less than a year ago the TMO/Williams rejected opportunities of improving ambulance services, increasing staffing competence and a fully sustainable funding model. TMO/Williams have still failed to answer many questions regarding ambulance vehicles eg What happened to the 3 new ambulances provided/purchased that don’t appear to be in service?