Ambos ‘in staff push’

MICHELLE HERBISON
GEELONG “desperately” needs 11 more paramedics, according to their union.
Ambulance Employees Australia secretary Steve McGhie said he would next week begin a push for funding to supply the additional staff.
The union would ask Victorian Government to include the funding in the next state budget.
Mr McGhie said the union also wanted seven more patient-transfer officers for Geelong and five paramedics at Meredith.
The Geelong increase would provide two additional crews, with one each for day and night shifts, he said.
The increase at Meredith would provide one extra 24-hour crew to “ease the burden” on Geelong paramedics responding to calls from the area.
Mr McGhie said the additional patient transfer officers would double the existing complement in Geelong to further ease the strain on paramedics.
“We see a lot of circumstances where emergency paramedics are sent to non-emergency cases that keep them occupied, so we’re seeking employees qualified to transfer patients to and from hospitals in a non-emergency format.”
Mr McGhie said paramedic crews were continually stretched to the limit in Geelong.
Problems like response delays had become “common practice”.
“Part of the problem is paramedics just take it in their stride,” he said.
“Shifts are being dropped and not filled due to absenteeism and there are not enough people to fill on overtime.
“While there might be some new graduates go into the area, it’s not providing additional crews on the road. It’s just filling the gaps on rosters.”
Mr McGhie said he would also push for two additional ambulances in Geelong and extra non-emergency vehicles for patient transfer.
Health Minister David Davis’s spokesperson said a 2010 Auditor General’s report identified a decline in ambulance services under the previous Labor government.
“Labor mismanaged ambulance services over the previous 11 years, including the merger of three previous ambulance services, and it will take time to turn around Labor’s mismanagement,” the spokesperson said.