Latest news with #HHStJ
Scoop
06-07-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Emergency Ambulance Services Celebrate Paramedics And First Responders
As part of a global tribute, Hato Hone St John (HHStJ) and Wellington Free Ambulance (WFA) will unite on 8 July to celebrate International Paramedics Day for the third year running. Created in 2022 by the College of Paramedics in the United Kingdom, the annual event honours all paramedics and first responders and highlights the power of teamwork and collaboration. Last year, Hato Hone St John's more than 5,000 paid and volunteer ambulance personnel responded to more than 450,000 incidents nationwide and Wellington Free Ambulance's over 200 paramedics and first responders attended more than 54,000 emergencies across Greater Wellington and Wairarapa. Peter Bradley, Hato Hone St John Chief Executive, acknowledges how the paramedic role has developed significantly over the decades, with St John first responders commencing their service to New Zealanders in 1885. 'For 140 years and counting, our people have served their communities, from giving basic first aid at events, to playing a crucial role in pre-hospital care. 'We are incredibly grateful to all our ambulance personnel who continue to make a life-changing differences in the face of growing demand for emergency services and an increasingly busy public health sector.' With this year's theme centered on 'Unity and Community', the two emergency ambulance service providers are celebrating the different ways in which paramedics, their colleagues and partners, work together to support each other and their communities, while overcoming challenges to deliver the best possible care. David Robinson, Wellington Free Ambulance Chief Executive, says, 'This International Paramedics Day, I'd like to acknowledge and thank our incredible paramedics for their tireless dedication and commitment and the difference they make to their communities – 24/7, 365 days a year. 'It's not an exaggeration to say that unity and community are absolutely essential to Wellington Free Ambulance. There's a real sense of camaraderie in our paramedic workforce; they've got each other's backs, which allows them to show up for our communities feeling fully supported. Unified teams that share valuable knowledge, skills, and experience lead to better patient outcomes. 'Caring for, and being supported by, our community is at the very heart of everything we do. It's the ongoing support and generosity of our incredible community that allows us to be here for anyone who needs us in Greater Wellington and Wairarapa, 24/7, free of charge.' Dan Ohs, Hato Hone St John Deputy Chief Executive – Ambulance Operations, says the day shines a spotlight on the significant contribution paramedics and first responders make across a wide range of roles. 'Ambulance personnel across the country work under high pressure, challenging conditions, when people are at their most vulnerable. We appreciate their skills, knowledge, and commitment to caring for patients. 'A huge thank you to all our ambulance personnel and everyone who supports them. You make a genuine difference to people's lives through the incredible work you do.' To mark the occasion on 8 July, several national landmarks will be lit up in yellow and green – the colours of emergency ambulances in New Zealand. Hato Hone St John and Wellington Free Ambulance invite the public to join them in acknowledging and thanking all the paramedics and first responders who serve in their communities. The landmarks being lit up on International Paramedics Day include:
Scoop
29-04-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Hato Hone St John's Digital And Data Win Big At Veeam Data Resilience Awards
Press Release – Hato Hone St John HHStJs Digital and Data general manager Sarah Ellison says, Winning this award validates the countless hours spent solving complex problems, embracing change, and pushing the boundaries of whats possible through technology. Hato Hone St John (HHStJ) has taken out the Business Impact Award at the Veeam Software Data Resilience Awards in San Diego for its work protecting and maintaining the organisation's digital infrastructure. HHStJ's Digital and Data general manager Sarah Ellison says, 'Winning this award validates the countless hours spent solving complex problems, embracing change, and pushing the boundaries of what's possible through technology'. 'It's a moment of pride for our team, and a motivating reminder of the impact we can have when we work together to deliver our vision of enhancing health and wellbeing for all through technology and data,' Sarah says. Last week HHStJ's National Tech Infrastructure Manager Andrew Fletcher was invited to Veeam's Data Resilience Awards in San Diego where he presented to conference attendees on the rising threat of cyber-attacks, particularly ransomware, targeting healthcare organisations. While there, Andrew accepted the award on behalf of the digital and data team. 'For our team, this recognition is especially meaningful. While our work is not always visible, it is critical to enabling the organisation to operate smoothly. Winning this award highlights the impact of our efforts and acknowledges the essential role we play in protecting and maintaining the organisation's digital infrastructure,' Andrew says. As health data becomes a growing target for cyber hackers, HHStJ turned to the #1 global market leader in data resilience, Veeam Software for a solution to help protect its IT platforms. Andrew says with healthcare organisations becoming increasingly popular targets for ransomware, it was vital they had effective data resilience for protection, backup, and disaster recovery for virtual, physical, and cloud-based workloads. 'There's been an increase in medical data breaches, with health and patient data now more valuable to hackers than financial data,' he says. 'It's not just about keeping the data safe; it's about making sure the ambulances keep rolling and life-saving services are not impacted. If our IT systems go down for too long, it could literally be a life-or-death situation, so having a data resilience powered by Veeam is critical to ensure we keep running.' He says all the organisation's services depend on digital technology. 'Whether we are providing emergency paramedic care, offering first aid training or monitoring wearable medical alarms, practically all our services depend on digital technology. 'As well as ensuring we are always on with our IT platforms, our organisation needs to be data resilient. If that data isn't secure and accessible, it could impact emergency responses, patient care, and the support people count on every day. 'We rely on an extensive IT infrastructure to support our work, and extended periods of unplanned downtime could potentially be fatal.' Veeam's General Manager and Senior Vice President APJ Beni Sia says, 'The threat of ransomware demands best-in-class data resilience because without data, businesses grind to a halt.' 'In Hato Hone St John's case, that can be the difference between life and death. It's a privilege to be entrusted to power their data resilience and we're proud to be an integral part of the work required to ensure they can continue to save and protect lives.' ABOUT HATO HONE ST JOHN · Hato Hone StJohn provides emergency ambulance services to 90 percent of New Zealanders and covers 97 percent of the country's geographical area. · Hato Hone StJohn is made up of a mix of full-time paid employees and volunteer staff. · Along with the emergency ambulance service, Hato Hone StJohn provides a significant number of community health programmes and initiatives which help build community resilience. They include Health Shuttles, Caring Caller, Friends of the Emergency Department, StJohn Youth, StJohn in Schools, and Therapy Pets. · Hato Hone StJohn also delivers event health services, medical alarm services, first aid training and operates retail stores across the country.
Scoop
29-04-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Hato Hone St John's Digital And Data Win Big At Veeam Data Resilience Awards
Hato Hone St John (HHStJ) has taken out the Business Impact Award at the Veeam Software Data Resilience Awards in San Diego for its work protecting and maintaining the organisation's digital infrastructure. HHStJ's Digital and Data general manager Sarah Ellison says, 'Winning this award validates the countless hours spent solving complex problems, embracing change, and pushing the boundaries of what's possible through technology'. 'It's a moment of pride for our team, and a motivating reminder of the impact we can have when we work together to deliver our vision of enhancing health and wellbeing for all through technology and data,' Sarah says. Last week HHStJ's National Tech Infrastructure Manager Andrew Fletcher was invited to Veeam's Data Resilience Awards in San Diego where he presented to conference attendees on the rising threat of cyber-attacks, particularly ransomware, targeting healthcare organisations. While there, Andrew accepted the award on behalf of the digital and data team. 'For our team, this recognition is especially meaningful. While our work is not always visible, it is critical to enabling the organisation to operate smoothly. Winning this award highlights the impact of our efforts and acknowledges the essential role we play in protecting and maintaining the organisation's digital infrastructure,' Andrew says. As health data becomes a growing target for cyber hackers, HHStJ turned to the #1 global market leader in data resilience, Veeam Software for a solution to help protect its IT platforms. Andrew says with healthcare organisations becoming increasingly popular targets for ransomware, it was vital they had effective data resilience for protection, backup, and disaster recovery for virtual, physical, and cloud-based workloads. 'There's been an increase in medical data breaches, with health and patient data now more valuable to hackers than financial data,' he says. 'It's not just about keeping the data safe; it's about making sure the ambulances keep rolling and life-saving services are not impacted. If our IT systems go down for too long, it could literally be a life-or-death situation, so having a data resilience powered by Veeam is critical to ensure we keep running.' He says all the organisation's services depend on digital technology. 'Whether we are providing emergency paramedic care, offering first aid training or monitoring wearable medical alarms, practically all our services depend on digital technology. 'As well as ensuring we are always on with our IT platforms, our organisation needs to be data resilient. If that data isn't secure and accessible, it could impact emergency responses, patient care, and the support people count on every day. 'We rely on an extensive IT infrastructure to support our work, and extended periods of unplanned downtime could potentially be fatal.' Veeam's General Manager and Senior Vice President APJ Beni Sia says, "The threat of ransomware demands best-in-class data resilience because without data, businesses grind to a halt.' 'In Hato Hone St John's case, that can be the difference between life and death. It's a privilege to be entrusted to power their data resilience and we're proud to be an integral part of the work required to ensure they can continue to save and protect lives.' ABOUT HATO HONE ST JOHN · Hato Hone StJohn provides emergency ambulance services to 90 percent of New Zealanders and covers 97 percent of the country's geographical area. · Hato Hone StJohn is made up of a mix of full-time paid employees and volunteer staff. · Along with the emergency ambulance service, Hato Hone StJohn provides a significant number of community health programmes and initiatives which help build community resilience. They include Health Shuttles, Caring Caller, Friends of the Emergency Department, StJohn Youth, StJohn in Schools, and Therapy Pets. · Hato Hone StJohn also delivers event health services, medical alarm services, first aid training and operates retail stores across the country.
Techday NZ
23-04-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
St John applauded, wins award for health data resilience
Hato Hone St John has been named a finalist in the Veeam Data Resilience Awards, in recognition of its efforts to safeguard vital healthcare data and maintain uninterrupted delivery of emergency medical services. As healthcare data increasingly becomes a target for cyber hackers, HHStJ turned to Veeam Software, a global leader in data resilience, to secure its digital infrastructure. According to St John's National Tech Infrastructure Manager, Andrew Fletcher, the move was prompted by a significant rise in cyber-attacks on medical institutions. "There's been an increase in medical data breaches, with health and patient data now more valuable to hackers than financial data," Fletcher said. He explained that healthcare organisations have become prime targets for ransomware attacks, making data resilience essential not only for security, but also for operational continuity. "It's not just about keeping the data safe; it's about making sure the ambulances keep rolling and life-saving services are not impacted," Fletcher said. "If our IT systems go down for too long, it could literally be a life-or-death situation, so having a data resilience powered by Veeam is critical to ensure we keep running." Fletcher emphasised that nearly all of St John's services are reliant on robust digital platforms. This includes emergency paramedic care, first aid training, and remote monitoring through wearable medical alarms. "Whether we are providing emergency paramedic care, offering first aid training or monitoring wearable medical alarms, practically all our services depend on digital technology," he said. "As well as ensuring we are always on with our IT platforms, our organisation needs to be data resilient. If that data isn't secure and accessible, it could impact emergency responses, patient care, and the support people count on every day." The importance of avoiding IT disruptions, Fletcher added, cannot be overstated. "We rely on an extensive IT infrastructure to support our work, and extended periods of unplanned downtime could potentially be fatal." As a result of the proactive work led by Fletcher and his team, St John has been selected as one of three finalists for the Veeam Data Resilience Awards, which are being held in San Diego from 21 to 23 April. In addition to the nomination, Fletcher has been invited to speak at the VeeamON conference, where he will present on the increasing cyber threats facing healthcare providers, particularly ransomware. Beni Sia, General Manager and Senior Vice President for Asia Pacific and Japan at Veeam, noted the severity of the risks associated with cyber-attacks on healthcare systems and praised HHStJ's efforts. "The threat of ransomware demands best-in-class data resilience because without data, businesses grind to a halt," Sia said. "In Hato Hone St John's case, that can be the difference between life and death. It's a privilege to be entrusted to power their data resilience and we're proud to be an integral part of the work required to ensure they can continue to save and protect lives." The recognition highlights the growing importance of cybersecurity in the healthcare sector and the need for constant vigilance and investment in systems that protect critical services.
