First Impressions By Brendan Horan

These days it seems that too many of us know the cost of everything but know the value of nothing. Look at the sorry situation of the wonderful organisation St John.

St John volunteers, wearing their traditional black and white uniforms have helped generations of New Zealanders by being at the forefront of medical response.

St John provides Ambulance Services throughout the country. Watch a rugby game and you will see the familiar uniforms on the sideline. The 'Zambuck” has always been there to help.

Now it is the turn of St John to seek help and as a nation we must respond. News that this important medical and social service lost $15 million last year means that taxpayers must come to the rescue. Ambulances will no longer be sent to 'minor” 111 calls to help stem the loss.

There has been a steady increase in the number of elderly people with chronic illnesses and this is causing more pressure on St John services. The workers are under heavy pressure, especially during the cold winter.

There is only one answer to the funding problems of St John. Increase it! Cutbacks to services to the sick and injured will prove more costly than any savings made. In the case of this worthy organisation, it really does provide the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.

The Ministry of Health and the Accident Compensation Corporation pay 80 per cent of St John's funding. This totalled $223 million in the 2010/11 financial year. This organisation cannot work on a hand to mouth basis. It is too important.

The lives and wellbeing of tens of thousands of New Zealanders are at stake here. All the public relations 'spin” in the world will not alter the fact that the government is spending hundreds of millions on 'consultants”, 'facilitators” and 'analysts” but cutting back on basic healthcare.

This is not the New Zealand that my parents left me.