Looming workforce crisis in ambulance sector

Looming workforce crisis in ambulance sector

Ambulance officers are warning of a crisis in the sector as overworked paramedics miss meal breaks because of heavy workloads.

“Very few employees have to wait seven hours to get a meal break, but in the ambulance sector this is becoming more frequent as paramedics struggle to manage the increasing demand on the current resource base,” says NDU Ambulance Sector Coordinator and former paramedic Craig Page.

“With an annual growth of between 6-8%, emergency call volumes are overwhelming the availability of ambulances.”

“Paramedics are suffering as they miss their meal breaks and constantly exceed their work time limits imposed by legislation.”

More double crewed emergency ambulances with well qualified staff were needed, he said.

“Everyone understands that from time to time workload peaks or a true emergency occurs, but when there aren’t enough resources at the best of times or when decisions are made not to cover vehicles, then our members say this just isn’t good enough.”

“Ambulance officers want St John and the government to acknowledge the issue and do something about it. Things briefly improved a couple of years ago when we implemented a penalty for non compliance, but the situation has got worse.”

“Put simply, if nothing improves the sector will lose experienced career Paramedics to Australia. Demand is just as great there, but the pay is better and their employers manage meal breaks significantly better with appropriate compensation to their workers when they can’t get breaks,” Craig Page says.

ENDS

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