United Voice News
New data shows Melbourne’s intensive care ambulance service is in meltdown
New ambulance data reveals that there have been almost 130 occasions when MICA, Melbourne’s intensive care ambulance service, was suspended or downgraded over the last six months due to a critical shortage of elite MICA paramedics.
The data is part of a new Ambulance Employees Australia report released today, MICA in Meltdown, that argues Melbourne’s MICA service is in deep crisis, with high level emergency clinical care often either delayed or unavailable across large parts of Melbourne.
MICA paramedics are Melbourne’s most highly-trained operational paramedics. They perform urgent, life-saving clinical interventions on the most critically ill patients. MICA cases include cardiac arrests, severe breathing difficulties, head injuries, stabbings, shootings and major road trauma victims.
The AEA report shows that Melbourne’s Metropolitan Ambulance Service (MAS) has been routinely unable to operate a full MICA service in many suburbs across Melbourne over the last six months.
The report also contains leaked MAS workforce data confirming that there has been an exodus of MICA paramedics over the last two years.
The AEA believes MAS has lost about twenty percent of its MICA workforce and every month a further four to six MICA paramedics are leaving.
AEA State Secretary Steve McGhie said MICA paramedics are walking away because of fatigue and frustration at MICA being used to try and prop up an ambulance service that is massively understaffed, leaving MICA unavailable for the people who need it most.
“Our MICA service is collapsing,” said McGhie.
“Already, large parts of Melbourne are having their local MICA service cancelled or downgraded on a regular basis.
“This means that the most critically ill patients are waiting longer for a MICA Unit to arrive or missing out altogether.
“Paramedics say patients lives are being put at risk every day. Is it going to take someone dying to fix this crisis?”
“The Victorian Government must provide funding for more paramedics, including more MICA paramedics, and commit to ensuring a full MICA service is restored to all of Melbourne.”
18 February 2008
