Qld ambulance officers paid $40m in penalties for missed meal breaks

Taxpayers have forked out almost $40 million in penalties as exhausted ambulance officers are too stretched for a key work condition.

Exhausted ambos are so stretched they don’t even have time to take a meal break, in the latest example of the state’s strained health system.

Long-running ramping issues at Queensland hospitals are contributing to the problem, with paramedics spending hours waiting to admit patients to inundated emergency departments.

Taxpayers forked out almost $40 million in the past financial year for the meal allowances, which are triggered when a worker can’t take a break, an increase of more than $10 million over 2019-20.

The ballooning bill has increased a staggering 123 per cent since 2015-16, prompting the Opposition to again take aim at the state’s health system.

Ambulance services spokeswoman Ros Bates said the figures were yet another symptom of Queensland’s health crisis.

“Our paramedics are stuck waiting on hospital ramps and they’re missing their break times,” she said.

“It’s costing taxpayers $40 million a year. Worse, it’s leaving our paramedics exhausted and burnt out.”

According to the figures released in a parliamentary question on notice, the total meal penalty hours for 2020-21 were 963,451, which saw $39.9 million paid.

This is compared to 749,557 hours the previous financial year and $29.2 million paid.

During the past financial year, Queensland Ambulance Service attended 1,403,380 requests for assistance, up from 1,133,037 in 2015-16.

Meal penalties are paid to QAS officers when they miss a meal break, or if the break is broken or late.

A QAS spokesman said the closest, most appropriate ambulances would always be sent to a life-threatening emergency, regardless of whether officers were on a scheduled meal break.

“The QAS has experienced an increase in meal penalty hours and payments as a result of increased demand on the broader health system and increased resource consumption associated with the Covid-19 pandemic response,” he said.

“The quantum of meal penalties increases as staff numbers, wages and other related employee entitlements increase.

“The QAS consistently reviews operational requirements and system capacity along with operational costs and seeks to balance operational performance with cost effective service delivery.”

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said it was disappointing to see the LNP ignoring the positive contribution of paramedics.

“My overwhelming focus is on reaching and exceeding our vaccination targets, which is why I’m travelling throughout the state encouraging more people to get vaccinated,” she said.

“The LNP won’t commit to supporting mandatory vaccination for health workers, which is putting the community at risk, because we know Delta is coming to Queensland.”