St John is considering establishing a first response unit in Palmerston, in an effort to increase emergency response capabilities in the area, which is about 40 minutes by road from Dunedin.
Coastal Otago district operations manager David Jasperse said what was suggested was different from a proposal rejected by relevant local organisations several years ago, which looked at a full-blown volunteer ambulance service for the East Otago town.
A first response unit would work more closely with the emergency first response system in the town. Local doctors and the prime nurse would be integral members of the unit, which would be supplemented by volunteers so that it was eventually a 24-hour service.
Residents of East Otago would have a chance to have their say about the idea at a meeting in Palmerston next month.
Mr Jasperse said he would also be looking for interest from people who might want to become volunteers.
The unit would work on the same premise as similar ones in Glenorchy and Riversdale.
It would involve existing responders and qualified volunteers who would attend incidents and stabilise patients before the the ambulance from Dunedin or Oamaru, or the Otago Regional Rescue helicopter arrived.
The service would enhance what was already in place by adding volunteers and providing fulltime access to a dedicated vehicle.
Should the Palmerston community support the idea, work would start immediately to recruit and train volunteers, Mr Jasperse said.
He said early indications suggested the proposal would be met with a favourable response from the local community at a public meeting, to be held at 7.30pm on February 8 at East Otago High School.
He had spoken with local medical personnel about the idea, but had yet to approach other community groups.
East Otago doctor Jeremy Hay declined to comment on the idea.
