Embargoed until 5.30am Wednesday 12 November
Over 100 paramedics deliver message to Brumby: fix our ambo crisis
Over 100 paramedics will be at Parliament today to deliver a coffin full of 5000
postcards from Victorians to Premier Brumby demanding the government fix
the ambulance service crisis.
Ambos have been campaigning since March for the government to address
the chronic shortage of paramedics by improving wages and conditions.
Official reports tabled in parliament two weeks ago showed Melbourne
response times had increased from 15 minutes to 16.5 minutes for 90 percent
of ambulances, and from 25 to 26 minutes in rural Victoria.
Ambulance Employees Australia State Secretary Steve McGhie said
Ambulance Victoria is struggling to fill the 358 new positions promised state-
wide because it has failed to address paramedic concerns.
“It is time the government takes responsibility for this crisis and addresses
community concerns. Unless ambos get fair wages and fatigue is dealt with,
who will want to do this job?”
A Melbourne coroner heard last Thursday how a slow response caused by a
lack of paramedics and ambulance services may have contributed to the
death of an 11-year-old Yarra Glen boy who died of an asthma attack.
Paramedics have repeatedly voiced concerns about slow response times in
the outer suburbs.
The service is being propped up by ambos working overtime, with Ambulance
Service statistics showing rural paramedics work 11 weeks a year, more than
one day per week overtime, while Melbourne paramedics do more than six
weeks a year.
“Victorians are paying the price for Premier Brumby’s refusal to provide fair
wages and safe working conditions for paramedics.”
“Paramedics we surveyed said they’ve fallen asleep driving and made
mistakes because of their long hours and excessive workload. They average
only six hours sleep a night.”
Paramedics are demanding minimum 10-hour rest breaks between shifts, a
decent pay increase and better resources to do their job properly.
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“Paramedics do this job because they love it and they want to provide the best
possible care for the community. Surely it is the role of government to ensure
paramedics can deliver the best service possible to the community and keep
people safe, rather than working them into the ground and burning them out.”
Ends
Media comment: Steve McGhie, AEA State Secretary 0425 755 906
Further info: Matt Fennessy AEA Media Support Officer 0424 148 626
Media Alert: Paramedics protest at Parliament
When: Wednesday 12 November, 11.30am.
Where: Parliament House steps, Spring St.
Photo opportunities: At least 100 ambos at Parliament with banners to
deliver a coffin stuffed with postcards to Premier Brumby.
NEWS 
