❓ A WA parliamentary question raises concerns about funding disparities between metropolitan and country ambulance services, questioning government contributions, consumer fees, personnel allocation, and surplus usage. The Minister's response clarifies funding allocation, surplus usage, and acquittal requirements.
AnsweredQoN 4545Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) The St John Ambulance
Annual Report 2014-15 shows that the Department of Health contributes 40
per cent of the income source for the metropolitan ambulance service, yet
contributes 16 percent only of the income source for the country ambulance
service. Will the Minister explain why the Government discriminates against
country people by contributing a significantly smaller proportion of country
ambulance services than it does for metropolitan ambulance services? (2) The St John Ambulance
Annual Report 2014-15 shows that fees paid by consumers for ambulance services
makes up 49 per cent of the income source for the metropolitan ambulance
service, yet fees paid by country consumers makes up 64 per cent of the income
source for country ambulance services. Why do country consumers for
ambulance services have to make a larger contribution towards the income source
of the service than is the case in the metropolitan area? (3) The St John Ambulance
Annual Report 2014-15 shows that St John Ambulance allocates 75 per cent of its
income for metropolitan ambulance services to paying for personnel, yet
allocates only 50 per cent of its income for country ambulance services to
paying for personnel. Does the Government agree that only 50 per cent of
country ambulance services income should be spent on personnel? (4) The St John Ambulance
Annual Report 2014-15 shows St John Ambulance made a surplus of $21,505,000
from country ambulance services. Why doesn’t the contract between the
Government and St John Ambulance require St John Ambulance to direct this
surplus to employing additional paramedics in country Western Australia? (5) The St John Ambulance
Annual Report 2014-15 shows St John Ambulance country ambulance service made a
surplus of $3,028,000. Why doesn’t the contract between the Government
and St John Ambulance require St John Ambulance to direct this surplus to
employing additional paramedics in country Western Australia? (6) What acquittal
requirements are imposed on St John Ambulance in relation to Government funding
paid to St John Ambulance?
Annual Report 2014-15 shows that the Department of Health contributes 40
per cent of the income source for the metropolitan ambulance service, yet
contributes 16 percent only of the income source for the country ambulance
service. Will the Minister explain why the Government discriminates against
country people by contributing a significantly smaller proportion of country
ambulance services than it does for metropolitan ambulance services? (2) The St John Ambulance
Annual Report 2014-15 shows that fees paid by consumers for ambulance services
makes up 49 per cent of the income source for the metropolitan ambulance
service, yet fees paid by country consumers makes up 64 per cent of the income
source for country ambulance services. Why do country consumers for
ambulance services have to make a larger contribution towards the income source
of the service than is the case in the metropolitan area? (3) The St John Ambulance
Annual Report 2014-15 shows that St John Ambulance allocates 75 per cent of its
income for metropolitan ambulance services to paying for personnel, yet
allocates only 50 per cent of its income for country ambulance services to
paying for personnel. Does the Government agree that only 50 per cent of
country ambulance services income should be spent on personnel? (4) The St John Ambulance
Annual Report 2014-15 shows St John Ambulance made a surplus of $21,505,000
from country ambulance services. Why doesn’t the contract between the
Government and St John Ambulance require St John Ambulance to direct this
surplus to employing additional paramedics in country Western Australia? (5) The St John Ambulance
Annual Report 2014-15 shows St John Ambulance country ambulance service made a
surplus of $3,028,000. Why doesn’t the contract between the Government
and St John Ambulance require St John Ambulance to direct this surplus to
employing additional paramedics in country Western Australia? (6) What acquittal
requirements are imposed on St John Ambulance in relation to Government funding
paid to St John Ambulance?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
22 November 2016
Responded by
Minister for Planning representing the Minister for Health
Response time
35 days
(1-3) The allocation of Department of Health funding to country areas of WA is not stipulated within the Service Agreement between the State of Western Australia and St John Ambulance WA Ltd (SJA). The allocation contained within the SJA Annual Report 2014-15 represents their internal classification of funds.
Significant costs incurred to support the state wide operations, including regional areas, are funded from the income sources classified as Metropolitan within the Annual Report. For regional areas this would include but not be limited to:
Based on payroll and associated costs for Paramedics and Community Paramedics only for 2014-15, regional areas accounted for 26 percent of the costs incurred by SJA for the State whilst representing 22 percent of patient transport cases.
(4) It is understood that the $21,505,000 referred to in the SJA Annual report relates to the surplus for the overall organisation not the country ambulance services. SJA is a charitable, not-for-profit organisation that provides the community with life-saving first aid skills as well as delivering the State’s ambulance service. SJA income is derived from a number of services, not just ambulance services, these include: the provision of road based patient transport; continued Event Health Services; Medical Services; Patient Transfer Services; the Community First Responder System; and the Youth Engagement Initiative.
(5) The reported surplus of $3,028,000 generated within country operations is primarily related to volunteer sub centres. The surplus funds are utilised in equipment and capital works activities within the regional areas in which those revenues were received.
(6) The Service Agreement contains outputs and outcomes inclusive of a reporting and monitoring structure to govern the performance of service delivery and quality of service.
SJA must provide a copy of its Annual Report, Auditors Report and audited Balance Sheet for the previous financial year by 30 November each year. The annual financial statements must be audited by a person who is independent of SJA and who is a member of a recognised professional body of accountants. The Annual Report of SJA must include:
(i) Whole-of-Organisation Financial Position (Balance Sheet);
(ii) Whole-of-Organisation Financial Performance (Income & Expenditure);
(iii) Whole-of-Organisation Statement of Cash Flows;
(iv) Notes to the Financial Statements;
(v) Management Board Certification Whole-of-Organisation Statement; and
(vi) Independent Auditor's Report Whole-of-Organisation.
Significant costs incurred to support the state wide operations, including regional areas, are funded from the income sources classified as Metropolitan within the Annual Report. For regional areas this would include but not be limited to:
Based on payroll and associated costs for Paramedics and Community Paramedics only for 2014-15, regional areas accounted for 26 percent of the costs incurred by SJA for the State whilst representing 22 percent of patient transport cases.
(4) It is understood that the $21,505,000 referred to in the SJA Annual report relates to the surplus for the overall organisation not the country ambulance services. SJA is a charitable, not-for-profit organisation that provides the community with life-saving first aid skills as well as delivering the State’s ambulance service. SJA income is derived from a number of services, not just ambulance services, these include: the provision of road based patient transport; continued Event Health Services; Medical Services; Patient Transfer Services; the Community First Responder System; and the Youth Engagement Initiative.
(5) The reported surplus of $3,028,000 generated within country operations is primarily related to volunteer sub centres. The surplus funds are utilised in equipment and capital works activities within the regional areas in which those revenues were received.
(6) The Service Agreement contains outputs and outcomes inclusive of a reporting and monitoring structure to govern the performance of service delivery and quality of service.
SJA must provide a copy of its Annual Report, Auditors Report and audited Balance Sheet for the previous financial year by 30 November each year. The annual financial statements must be audited by a person who is independent of SJA and who is a member of a recognised professional body of accountants. The Annual Report of SJA must include:
(i) Whole-of-Organisation Financial Position (Balance Sheet);
(ii) Whole-of-Organisation Financial Performance (Income & Expenditure);
(iii) Whole-of-Organisation Statement of Cash Flows;
(iv) Notes to the Financial Statements;
(v) Management Board Certification Whole-of-Organisation Statement; and
(vi) Independent Auditor's Report Whole-of-Organisation.
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