Verification New Zealand

This standard sets appropriate standards of service covering the means by which ambulance and paramedical services are organised and provided. Provides a means of assessing the extent to which ambulance and paramedical services are worthy of patients' confidence and trust, through the demonstration of clinical safety, reliability, efficiencies, and effectiveness. It applies to all modes of road vehicle where ambulance provision is the primary capability of the vehicle and to aircraft specifically equipped for ambulance provision when being used for that purpose.

The New Zealand Standard for ambulance services was introduced in 2002 as a first attempt at providing a national benchmark for all ambulance providers. It established guidelines for the provision of services that are safe and reliable, and efficient in the use of public funds and donated services.

To reflect the changing needs of this vital service the Standard would be revised within three years of its introduction and was re-issued in 2008 after an extensive review by a NZS review committee. This committee included participation by a Verification NZ Limited auditor.

Who should use the Standard?

The Standard covers road and air ambulance and paramedical emergency services, and outlines the minimum standards required to provide safe, reliable, and efficient services, and applies to any organisation that:

• provides an emergency ambulance service
• provides a paramedical or commercial services for events such as concerts
• provides an ambulance service to transport acute or admitted hospital patients
• uses the expression ambulance, paramedic, or medic to describe its services
• operates an Emergency Ambulance Communication Centre (EACC).

What’s in the Standard?

• Covers equipment and transport safety, service and crewing capability, emergency ambulance communication centres, management practices, consumer rights, and risk management processes. 
• Describes three ‘scopes of practice’:
  • basic life support(BLS)
  • intermediate life support (ILS)
  • advanced life support (ALS).
• Each organisation’s medical director must approve a ‘scope of practice’ for individual practitioners based on their education, clinical competence, and experience – this process provides the practitioner with a ‘delegated scope of practice’. 

Note: This Standard does not apply to, Basic first aid provision, PRIME Practitioners, Fire Service Medical Responses, or Search and Rescue operations.

Certification Process

• Contact VNZ in the first instance and we will talk you through the steps to get certified.
• Complete a VNZ application form with your relevant details.
• Development and implement your system in accordance with the NZS 8156:2008 Standard.
• VNZ will complete an initial gap assessment (stage one audit) to identify any gaps you may have. Recommendations will also be provided to represent “best practice” and assist you in further development of your processes.
• An initial audit will be scheduled and completed identifying any non-conformances and recommendations against the NZS 8156:2008 Standard.
• Complete corrective actions against all non-conformances raised in the initial audit report. These will be reviewed and closed by a VNZ auditor.
• Certification will be granted once all conditions have been closed and a formal certification issued.
• Surveillance audits will then be completed on an annual basis to ensure ongoing compliance and improvement.

Further Information

To make an enquiry or request a quote please email info@verification.co.nz.

To make an application, please download and complete this form (vnz-application-form.pdf).