THEY’RE the officers you call in a health emergency, but now ambulance paramedics are fighting a battle of their own to save their death and disability entitlements.
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Local paramedics wore fluoro reflective vests emblazoned with the word “Unprotected” yesterday, in a silent protest against the NSW government’s decision to dramatically change the death and disability cover.
The yellow safety vests are usually worn by the officers in high-risk situations, and yesterday was exactly that, according to the union.
“Paramedics are seven times more likely to get injured on the job than the average worker, and twice as likely as police,” Health Services Union New England Sub-branch president Dave Lucietto said.
“Paramedics have been offered two years’ income protection. Police are given five more years than paramedics to recover, recuperate and rehabilitate.”
Under the new death and disability scheme to come into effect on August 20, paramedics will receive a payout of about $123,000 if they suffer a career-ending injury, as part of a two-year income protection plan.
Under the current death and disability scheme, paramedics in their 20s and 30s receive up to $685,000.
“We’ve got families, we’ve got mortgages, we’ve got to be able to live,” HSU New England Sub-branch secretary Brian Bridge said.
“It’s being unable to work anymore, that’s the biggest concern.”
Drug addicts, violent and unstable patients and alcohol-fuelled men and women are just some of the daily dangers for paramedics.
High-risk situations are second-nature in the job, but the unpredictability of each callout plays on the mind of every paramedic, the union said.
The union believes paramedics face financial ruin if the cuts, which were announced after a ruling by the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC), take effect.
“Obviously with age and experience in the industry, there is reccurring injuries, and back injuries are the worst,” Mr Bridge said, adding paramedics have refused to lift patients because of the risk to themselves.
“Daily we have to call the police.
“You have to protect yourself because [management] will not.”
Health Minister Jillian Skinner acknowledged yesterday’s protest and said the work of paramedics is valued, adding the new insurance scheme “tops up any other income received by the officer, so that he or she receives 75 per cent of pre-disability salary”.
“Paramedics will no longer be required to contribute to the cost of the new scheme, as it will be funded solely by the NSW government.
“This will result in an increase of between $1480 and $1770 per annum in the pay of most on-road paramedics,” she said in a statement.
“The previous lump sum benefits for disability have been replaced by the two-year income protection benefit to support staff during a period of recovery and rehabilitation before they return to work.”