Ambulance union claims triple 0 calls are going unanswered, but SA Ambulance disputes that
Pressure on the health system means triple 0 calls are going unanswered, the ambulance union says, but SA Ambulance flatly rejects the claim.
SA News
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Triple-0 calls are going “unanswered” as pressure builds on the health system, the ambulance union says.
But the SA Ambulance Service said no emergency calls had been ignored.
Ambulance Employees Association state secretary Phil Palmer said the public was “at risk” and that emergencies were being left unattended for long periods.
“On Tuesday, the ambulance communications room were so busy that 93 triple-0 calls went unanswered,” Mr Palmer said.
“They were all for emergencies, including life-threatening cases.”
A SAAS spokeswoman said: “At no point did a triple-0 call go unanswered.”
More than 95 per cent of calls were picked up in under 10 seconds, she said.
Mr Palmer accused the State Government of “inaction and refusal to give SA Ambulance the resources it needs to provide safe care for the community, and a safe workplace for ambulance staff.”
“Make no mistake, lives are in peril,” he said.
The union released a video showing SAAS communications staff seeking crews for multiple unattended cases.
Mr Palmer said the relentless demand means ambulance crew are now working 12-hour shifts without a break, which runs the risk of tired and hungry workers making fatigue-related errors.
