Excellence in Leadership Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS)

Trial - Wellington Free Ambulance

Wellington Free Ambulance

Team: Nicholas Ridley, Kate Worthington, Chris Matthews, James McGregor, Stuart Glover

Beginning in 2020, Wellington Free Ambulance (WFA) and the New Zealand Police (NZP) conducted a 2.5 year long joint initiative. This pilot program involved the founding and development of a Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) team for deployment to highrisk environments by both ambulance and police. Throughout the trial the TEMS team consisted of 2-3 Paramedics with supporting management and logistical staff in WFA and NZP. To facilitate rapid response, real time intelligence updates, technical skill maintenance, and high-performance interoperability, TEMS staff were embedded fulltime with the NZP Special Tactics Group (STG). The team worked and trained alongside STG on a daily basis and were able to move freely between ambulance and police databases and radio frequencies. TEMS was deployable by both organisations and maintained an on-call capability outside of standard work hours.

The team also frequently worked alongside a number of other specialist teams from within Police, New Zealand Defence Force, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, and other government agencies. Due to the embedded nature and small size of the team, TEMS staff were able to develop a wide range of capabilities.

These included but were not limited to tactical operations, active armed offender response, hostile crowd operations, siege/hostage rescue support, hazardous materials (HAZMAT) response, airborne/ maritime deployment, remote medical care, and training provision. The TEMS team was deployed to a wide range of high-risk situations and took part in a number of high profile events during the trial. At the conclusion of the pilot, it was agreed by both WFA and NZP that the TEMS team was a highly valued asset, and that the trialed model was successful.