United Voice News
Paramedics say Libs half-baked ambo plan could cost lives
Paramedics have found a $300 mil black hole in the Liberal plan to cut ambulance fees, which they say would blow out emergency response times and put lives at risk.
Steve McGhie, State Secretary of Ambulance Employees Australia, said Ted Ballieu has forgotten to fund the additional 20 percent increase in caseload that would result from his fee cut.
“Cutting membership fees may sound like a good idea. But it will result in a lot more people using the service.”
“Unless this extra demand is properly funded, seriously ill people will be waiting even longer for an ambulance. That could cost lives.”
“Unfortunately Ted Ballieu has forgotten to include the impact of his fee cut on caseload.”
“Cutting the ambulance fees would result in an additional 20 percent increase in caseload over the next four years.”
“This would require an extra 600 paramedics and 150 more vehicles, on top of what has already been committed by both major parties.”
“But the Liberals are only offering $241 million. That leaves a $313.5 million dollar black hole in this plan.”
“This half-baked plan shows the Liberals remain unfit to manage our ambulance service.”
“Paramedics still vividly recall the last time the Liberals were in power.”
“They privatised the communication centre. In fact, Intergraph became the subject of a Royal Commission after several deaths, where ambulances couldn’t respond in an appropriate time frame.”
“They cut paramedic numbers, making senior paramedics redundant across the state.”
“They privatised non-emergency patient transport sector, reducing the amount of ambulance crews available across the system.”
“They even began privatising ambulance branches and running them as franchises, raising serious concerns that patient care would be fundamentally compromised as the service moved to a profit-based model.”
“Paramedics urge Victorians not fall for this cheap stunt.”
“The price paid by our ambulance service, and all who rely on it, could be far greater than most people may realise.”
