United Voice News
Wake Up Call On Ambo Fatigue: 87% Say Fatigue Affects Judgement At Work
A survey of Victorian paramedics has found that fatigue is at dangerously high levels, with many admitting that they have fallen asleep at the wheel and made mistakes drawing up drugs.
Nearly 20 percent of all Victorian paramedics participated in the survey (347 responded). It was conducted online by Ambulance Employees Australia over February and early March this year.
Other findings include:
- One in ten say fatigue affects their judgment at work at least once a week.
- 73% say fatigue is caused by their workload during their shift.
- 27% have a diagnosed medical problem caused or exacerbated by work-related fatigue.
- 69% say fatigue affects their relationship with their partner.
- 52% say it affects their relationship with their children.
Steve McGhie, Ambulance Employees Australia State Secretary, said the findings are a wake up call to the government and Victoria’s ambulance services.
“Paramedics should be saving lives. Yet every day, paramedics, patients and the broader community are being put at risk by fatigue that arises from paramedics’ extreme workload and dangerous rostering arrangements,” he said.
“For the last few years ambulance caseload has increased at a much higher rate than operational staffing levels.
“The Victorian Government likes talking about how it has doubled ambulance funding since it came to power, but in recent years funding has not kept pace with escalating caseload.
“In fact, the Productivity Commission found funding actually went backwards by almost $15 million (or 6 percent) last year financial year.
“These findings are a clear sign that our ambulance system is in crisis and that Premier Brumby has taken his eye off the ball.
“Will it take a paramedic or patient dying before Premier Brumby fixes this crisis?
“We urgently need a major increase in ambulance funding for additional paramedics.
“Extra staff will help reduce the workload of paramedics, enable them to get proper meal and rest breaks and have some down-time between cases.
“More staff will also help us chip away at the dangerously high levels of overtime and fatigue. It will enable paramedics to have some days off to get a proper rest, and allow for better rostering arrangements.”
25 March 2008
