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Emergency response services provided by Coast to Coast Health Care in rural areas north of Wellsford could be in jeopardy, after thieves targeted emergency vehicles twice over the holiday period.
Coast to Coast Health Care chair Dr Tim Molloy said a vehicle used for the PRIME (primary response in medical emergencies) service sustained damage while parked at Wellsford Medical Centre overnight on December 14-15. Several staff cars were also damaged, and one had to be written off.
Molloy said that while the damaged emergency vehicle was awaiting repairs, a backup car was put to use – until that vehicle was itself broken into on January 10 in the same area. The perpetrators caused significant damage, ripping out the ignition system. Molloy said it might have to be written off, too.
He said the vehicles carried emergency equipment, including all the tools needed to undertake resuscitation and management of patients in emergency settings.
The organisation was now extremely concerned about the safety of its vehicles and, particularly, its staff.
“As a consequence, we are considering whether we will continue to maintain this service,” Molloy said. No decision had yet been taken.
Funded by Te Whatu Ora and ACC, PRIME services are carried out in rural areas across the country by practices in conjunction with Hato Hone St John. Molloy said the Wellsford service had been operating for around 30 years, and covered an area encompassing Mangawhai, the Brynderwyns, Kaiwaka, Maungaturoto, Paparoa, Tapora and Port Albert.
Molloy said Coast to Coast, which had met with police, wanted to see the perpetrators caught and for the implications of their actions for the wider community to be made clear to them.
Waitematā North area prevention manager Detective Senior Sergeant Roger Small confirmed that four cars belonging to the medical centre were broken into in the carpark in the December incident and some items stolen. On January 10, another vehicle belonging to the medical centre was broken into while parked on Rodney Street. Police had spoken to medical centre management about the incidents and were following lines of enquiry to find those responsible.
“The possibility of parking these important vehicles in a more secure location has been discussed, but this is ultimately a matter for the medical centre,” Small said.
Johnny Mullheron, Hato Hone St John general manager ambulance operations – clinical support, said it was unfortunate to hear about the incidents.
“PRIME responders work with Hato Hone St John to provide access to life-saving services in remote and rural Aotearoa New Zealand. PRIME plays an important role in supporting emergency ambulance services,” he said.
“This kind of behaviour can severely compromise a PRIME responder’s ability to respond to life-threatening incidents in their community, and we have zero tolerance for [it],” Mullheron said. “Where necessary, we will work closely with PRIME and the police to follow up instances of vandalism to emergency vehicles.”
Assault, car thefts
Few other incidents were reported by police across the area over the holiday period, although a minor assault of a shop worker was reported at a commercial address on Queen Street, Warkworth on December 28. Police said there were no injuries.
On December 19, a stolen vehicle incident involving a 13-year-old driver saw police give chase north of Wellsford and then spike the car in Kaiwaka. Occupants transferred to a second stolen car which headed almost as far as Whangarei, where one passenger was dropped off before the car returned southward along SH1.
The second vehicle was then spiked at Te Hana and crashed, with no injuries reported. The 13-year-old was referred to Youth Aid Services, and a 15-year-old and 22-year-old were to appear in court.
Surf lifesaving clubs in Mangawhai Heads and Omaha reported a largely quiet holiday period.
According to information provided by Surf Lifesaving North Region, as of January 12, the Mangawhai Heads Volunteer Lifeguard Service had been on patrol for 1614 hours, six people were rescued and first aid provided on nine occasions.
Omaha Beach SLSC lifeguards had been on patrol for 2147 hours and provided first aid on seven occasions. No rescues were required.
