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Darrin and his colleague Stephen were part of the crew for Mahi Ngātahi, meaning working together, to add an additional ambulance to the road during the busy winter months. 

Normally the Patient Transfer Service (PTS) transport patients attending scheduled hospital appointments or transports between hospitals.

The new Mahi Ngātahi vehicle is dedicated to attending those 111 calls for low acuity patients, but need transport to hospital. These are the patients who are not in an immediately life threatening situation and can safely wait for timely transport.   

Darrin says patients are first assessed by a Paramedic, a Clinical Paramedic Advisor or a registered medical professional and require transport to either Wellington or Hutt Valley emergency departments. 

“There has been some very positive feedback about the trial from the patients we have transported and an appreciation from our Emergency Ambulance Service (EAS) colleagues

“The benefit of having a vehicle designated to transporting low acuity patients allows our paramedic colleagues to respond to higher acuity incidents,” Darrin says. 

Darrin enjoys working with both his Patient Transfer Officers and Paramedic colleagues. He says one of the best aspects of being part of the Mahi Ngātahi crew was the opportunity to assist in a way that benefits both his frontline colleagues and patients.

The Mahi Ngātahi vehicle ran from 6 July through to  6 November 2020.