United Voice News
Ambos have say in St John review
After a critical government review of St John Ambulance operations in Western Australia last year, ambulance officer John Thomas has been appointed to a steering committee which is attempting to address the serious issues highlighted by the report.
The group meets regularly with top health officials including Kim Snowball, the state’s acting health boss, to discuss the progress being made in meeting the recommendations made by the review.
John, who is also the LHMU’s Ambulance Employees Association president, said it was vitally important that someone working at the coal face of operations had input.
“Ambulance officers have been calling for changes within St John for a very long time. My presence on the steering group is a direct result of negotiations with the Health department by LHMU members,” he said.
“The union now has an influence on what is transpiring. Six committees looking at different areas of the service have been formed and we have paramedic representation on each of them.
“One of the biggest issues at St John was the lack of accountability. Because of our influence, all new positions at the organisation are being advertised. We’re also looking at placing additional paramedics in key country areas which have outgrown services provided by St John in the past.”
Carolyn Smith, LHMU WA Branch Assistant Secretary said there was a lot of hard work ahead to improve the service.
“LHMU members have been calling for change within the ambulance service for many years and their involvement in the review committees is essential if positive change is to be achieved,” she said.
