Paramedics hold grave fears for their own health and safety after the release of sweeping roster changes and draft fatigue management policy for NSW Paramedics that could leave crews with no sleep and having to front up to work.

The roster changes which will mostly affect rural and regional stations are placing paramedics on duty and on-call for longer periods of a time. “It doesn’t matter whether we’re on shift or on-call; as soon as someone rings Triple-zero, we go” said one paramedic.

The Ambulance Service of NSW state roster reforms have been aimed at reducing fatigue however at least one manager in Northern NSW has been quoted saying to paramedics that the changes were “fiscally based”. EMSPA lawyer Shaun Kerrigan said today that the problem is with resources and attempted solutions are misguided. “Rather than address particular areas of the state which are understaffed, they are rolling out the changes across the board including stations that don’t have issues with excess fatigue or workload.”

“Having paramedics on duty and on-call for extended periods of time also requires an extended period of time away from the job to rest and recuperate. This is already in place at many country stations. The Service thinks by moving away from this roster system they will fix problems; in some places though problems don’t actually exist.”

“The Ambulance Service is also using issues faced by paramedics in Northern NSW as a scapegoat for roster reform, Mr Kerrigan said. “The issue with Northern NSW was they were sending local crews out of town for hours at a time with low acuity patient transfers. Travelling long distances in the middle of the night with patients who can be appropriately transferred during daylight hours poses unnecessary risks to paramedics, patients and other road users. The Service simply failed to follow their own procedures and have been found wanting. Their attempt to fix this has created total unrest amongst paramedics and their families. This is going to be a major change to their working conditions; it is going to be a change for the worst. Don’t be surprised to see paramedics leave in droves.”

“On a large scale, Paramedics aren’t being properly consulted; they’re being told what will happen to rosters. The Service state there will be 3 phases of implementation, but no manager can tell them what the 3 phases are. This is mismanagement at its best.”

Ironically, on the 11th April, 2008 while in opposition, current Premier Barry O’Farrell was quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald as saying “These workers are overworked, they feel as though they're under stress, and more importantly, they don't believe the government or the Ambulance Service is managing their issues.” Mr Kerrigan said today that “Mr O’Farrell was absolutely spot on in 2008, but now they’re in Government we’d like to see some accountability.”

“EMSPA are not opposed to any reform designed to improve working conditions for the country’s most trusted profession. The general public expect that when they call Triple zero, the paramedic that turn up will be well resourced and well rested. Today that is not happening. Proposed changes will make things worse. Our Association is ready to sit down with the Ambulance Service and work constructively to improve the state of the Ambulance Service. All we need is an invitation and we’re there”.

Contact: Mr Shaun Kerrigan 0487 444 023

• non-AHHA

• Printer-friendly version