Mr Michael Andrews1,2,3
1St John Ambulance SI, Honiara, Solomon Islands
2Queensland Ambulance Service, Brisbane, Australia
3St John Ambulance QLD, Brisbane, Australia
The changing role of ambulance services presents both challenges and opportunities for healthcare in the Pacific Islands. Internationally, it has become clear that traditional ambulance service models are no longer responsive to the needs of our communities. This is even more evident in the Pacific Islands where unique challenges, such as geography, demography, limited resources, and the impact of climate change, are present.
olomon Islands alone has over 900 islands with around 100 languages. Local health clinics are under-resourced, and where ambulances are not available, access to healthcare is often a multi-day trip by canoe.
Ambulance services play a crucial role in providing timely and effective healthcare to local populations. However, the role of ambulance services in the Pacific Islands has been evolving due to changes in policy, technology, and shifting demographics. The political influence of Australia, United States, and China has seen significant investment in health.
Expanding beyond traditional models of emergency and pre-hospital care, the ambulance service in Solomon Islands is adopting new models of care to cater for overrepresented groups and demographics. With the introduction of domestic violence practitioners, mental health clinicians, diabetes educators, and secondary triage embedded into ambulance, we’ve seen a reduction in ambulance attendance and transportation –ensuring patients received the right care, at the right time, in the right manner.
By embracing new technologies, collaborating with communities, and adopting new models of care, ambulance services can play a vital role in improving the health and wellbeing of all people in the Pacific Islands.
Biography:
Biography to come