United Voice

Tomorrow and on Saturday paramedics across Victoria will refuse to record patient billing data for the first four hours of each shift, starving Ambulance Victoria of tens of thousands of dollars in revenue.

Tomorrow and Saturday paramedics will also ban the use Ambulance Victoria’s computer-based patient care record system, and instead reverting to paper-based patient care records.

“This is action is about increasing the pressure on Ambulance Victoria and Premier Brumby to find solutions to the crisis in Victoria’s ambulance service,” said Ambulance Employees Australia State Secretary Steve McGhie.

“We still hope strike action can be avoided but paramedics are determined to keep stepping up their campaign until they win proper rest breaks and fair wages.”

“Just last week another paramedic nearly died after he fell asleep driving.  He wrote off his car while driving home after a 14 hour night shift.”

On Monday it was revealed a leaked email to Ambulance Victoria CEO Greg Sassella from a senior manager contains the staggering admission “the advice we are getting indicates that we probably have to concede the 10 hours eventually”.

The April 24 email from Ambulance Victoria’s former Operations Manager Keith Young also implicates Health Minister Daniel Andrews.

Young refers to his discussion with the Minister’s ambulance adviser Maria Pereira.

“Have spoken with Maria … [she is] nervous about the 10 hour break issue and that we probably can’t hold the line of [sic] this … particularly if the advice we are getting indicates we probably have to concede the 10 hours eventually.” 

A copy of the email was anonymously sent to Ambulance Employees Australia.

“Paramedics are appalled to learn that this government has been ignoring its own advice that 10 hour breaks are justified. “

“It is time the Health Minister and Premier Brumby stopped playing games with the lives of paramedics and the lives of the Victorian public and start negotiating in good faith.”

Paramedics are currently also defying Ambulance Victoria’s policy of eight hour rest breaks between shifts and are taking enforced 10-hour rest breaks. This ensures they are properly rested and that any risk to the Victorian community from fatigued paramedics is reduced.

It is the responsibility of Ambulance Victoria to ensure there is ambulance coverage for the additional two hours.

Paramedics are also defying Ambulance Victoria’s media ban and providing briefings to journalists about working conditions and their campaign for a safer ambulance service.

Only Victorian and Western Australian paramedics still have eight hour minimum breaks.