NEW England paramedics say they will continue to lobby their state MPs as their fight for urgent station maintenance and better working conditions continues.
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Australian Paramedics Association (APA) delegates met with Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson on Monday and laid their concerns on the table.
Union delegate Scott Clarke said Mr Anderson was “receptive” at the meeting.
“He was very keen to hear the issues and a bit of a history about what’s been going on,” he said
“The frustration we have is that a lot of the maintenance and infrastructure issues that we have requires paramedics to go to the Nth-degree to get things done such as approaching SafeWork NSW.”
Mr Clarke said some of the maintenance concerns were addressed, but there was still some "outstanding issues”.
He said a company was employed by Ambulance NSW to report on the state of infrastructure in the area.
“It would be really interesting to get hold of that report because that would tell us exactly what the issues are,” he said.
“The APA won’t give up on this issue, we want to know what an independent consulting firm has said so we know exactly where the maintenance and infrastructure issues are.”
Mr Clarke said he also hoped Mr Anderson was able to answer questions on what budget funding for paramedics would end up in the region.
“I've asked them to come back to me with specific information or specific concerns about the infrastructure maintenance problems they believe is ongoing in ambulance stations in our region,” he said.
“They believe that the maintenance issues are not being addressed in a timely manner and there are some WHS concerns they want sorted out.
“They have informed me there was some work done on this issue and they believe a report has been prepared for Ambulance NSW, so I’d be keen to see that report and what the issues are.”
NSW Ambulance said it had received an internal report into NSW stations and it was being “considered”.
“This report identifies work as priorities one, two and three to determine the allocation of Repair, Maintenance and Refurbishment funding on a priority basis. Tamworth South Ambulance Station was included in the Building Conditions Report,” a statement said.