United Voice News
Red alert on ambo staffing
Under-staffing is putting patient lives at risk, say Victorian ambos
Ambulance members report an average of 10 ambulance crews are not staffed every day in Victoria.
The damning results come from a union online register that members have been contributing to since January. They will be used by members to campaign for more paramedics from the State Government.
When members were asked about the impact of these under-staffing:
· 46% said patient health was compromised
· 63% said communities left without coverage
· 70% said longer response times
· 88% said greater pressure and fatigue on paramedics
Jim Burzacott, a member at Bacchus Marsh, said the problem is widespread.
“They’re dropping crews left, right and centre,” he said.
“We hear a minimum of 13 vehicles that don’t run on Fridays and Saturdays,” said Dennis Roscoe, a member at Reservoir.
“It’s going on everywhere. It doesn’t seem like there’s enough staff,” agrees Peta Reilly (pictured), a member at Northcote.
“I’m part-time, but I get called up all the time to do overtime shifts,”
Steve McGhie, from the LHMU Ambulance Union, urged all members to use the register.
“These results are a disgrace.”
“We saw with the Yarrawonga case we raised, when a patient impaled on a fence waited 45 minutes for an ambulance, Ambulance Victoria responds to media and political pressure.”
“Yarrawonga is receiving seven more paramedics.”
“We will talk to the Minister and demand immediate action.”
Click here to report dropped shifts!
