Ambulance Service Kapiti Coast

Sheryl from Waikanae Beach

Last Friday 20/11, my Mum who lives in Waikanae had a medical event that required urgent medical attention. I called 111 and asked for an Ambulance at 11:11pm and spoke to the responder on the phone who assessed Mum’s symptoms and decided she needed an Ambulance to transport her from Waikanae to Wellington Hospital. Over the next hour I was on/off the phone and received text messages from the Ambulance service . I was advised several times that there was no Ambulance available to attend to my Mum but if her condition deteriorated please call 111 again. After speaking to the Ambulance service last at 12:04am I made the decision to drive my Mum into Wellington Regional Hospital via private vehicle so that she could receive the treatment she required. We arrived at Wellington Hospital just before 1:00am, nearly 2hrs after I initially called for assistance. Thank goodness my Mum’s condition didn’t deteriorate to the detriment of her health.

Has anyone else had similar experiences with being unable to have access to the Ambulance Service on the Kapiti Coast?

It seems that there are not enough Ambulances available to accommodate both Wellington and the Kapiti Coast. I wonder whether our newly elected Labour Candidate for the Otaki Electorate is aware of this situation.

Any feedback and thoughts would be useful please.