The Ambulance Service of NSW has now introduced roster reform paramedics fear will increase fatigue, particularly within the regional areas of NSW where on-call paramedics operate during times when stations are unmanned.
For many rural areas, an operating 24-hour ambulance station is only a dream. Communities rely on off-duty paramedics being recalled between their shifts as a means of providing ambulance services.
In an unprecedented move, EMSPA (Emergency Medical Service Protection Association aka Australian Paramedics Association) NSW has written to the troubled Health Services Union (HSU) and made an offer to provide legal support and funding to take the Ambulance Service to court over the introduction of these new rosters.
The failure of the union to lodge a dispute against the service to date on this has raised concern about the possible financial restraint they may be experiencing.
This is about looking after the wellbeing of NSW Ambulance employees and making sure members of the public are not being serviced by exhausted paramedics in their times of need.
EMSPA is willing to assist the HSU financially in this matter to obtain just and reasonable outcomes for all NSW paramedics.
WAYNE FLINT
SECRETARY
EMSPA NSW
