From the bureaucracy I see living in the capital of New Zealand, I'd take a private company over a government department any day! Sounds even worse over there than it is here. Ambulance service over here is almost entirely private; Wellington Free Ambulance and St John Ambulance cover most of the country. The funding comes mostly from the same place (Ministry of Health contracts) but I am glad it's not a swarm of public servants trying to run the show.