The travel to and from vital health and wellbeing related appointments has become a whole lot easier thanks to a team of newly trained volunteers tasked with manning the Napier Health Shuttle.

Leigh Herewini, Hato Hone St John Community Transport Manager, said the Napier Health Shuttle would be staffed by two volunteers each day, while the Health Shuttle Coordinator would support day-to-day operations from their Hastings office.

She said the koha (donation-based) service transports people to and from vital health and wellbeing-related appointments that clients otherwise cannot get to, adding the Napier service was the seventh Health Shuttle for the Hawke’s Bay region.

“It will provide transport for people who live in Napier and surrounding areas such as Bay View.”

There are additional shuttle services in Hastings, Mahia, Tuai, Wairoa, Waipukurau and Porangahau.

“The Napier team will work closely with the Hastings Health Shuttle team, as the Hastings shuttle is wheelchair accessible. On occasion, the Hastings Health Shuttle will be used to transport people in Napier who require a wheelchair-accessible shuttle.”

The Napier Health Shuttle is a ten-seater. At times, the shuttle team will transport multiple people at once.

The news of the health shuttle service hitting the road came hand-in-hand with the announcement of a new Hato Hone St John ambulance station for Napier and the ‘official’ unveiling of a Major Incident Support Team (MIST) vehicle, which has been in service for some weeks.

More than 100 people were at the announcement on Monday, August 7.

Located on Tait Drive, the project has seen a new state-of-the art emergency response hub built on the site of the former ambulance station. Part of the old building was demolished and the remaining structure was significantly extended.

Brendon Hutchinson, Hato Hone St John District Operations Manager, said the new station was the largest in the region, and would act as a major hub for ambulance services, staff and community training, and other Hato Hone St John community programmes.

“Because of the immense support of our volunteers, donors, and the wider community, we are now better equipped than ever to respond to emergencies as they arise,” he said.

“The station is built to be operational in the immediate aftermath of major emergencies like earthquakes or significant natural disasters, while the training and staff facilities will help us build a more resilient community.”

Built to Importance Level 4 (IL4) standard, the station has space for emergency and patient transfer vehicles, 25 car parks for staff and visitors, areas for public first aid courses, meetings, administration, and operational support, six rest areas for shift workers, a kitchen and communal area, showers and bathroom facilities, and a wash bay for vehicles.

The shuttle roll out coincided with the launch of Napier’s first ever MIST vehicle.

Thanks to generous funding from the public, the vehicle will be used during major emergencies and public events. It contains bulk medical equipment capable of treating up to 50 patients, stretchers, an inflatable rescue shelter, generator, scene lighting, and vital communications equipment.

Photos: Izak van der Merwe

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