Why Cairns Ambulance call outs might increase by 4000 in 2022

Their boss reckons they’re the best paramedics around, but busy ambulance crews in Cairns are bracing for a big increase in workload due to population growth and the pandemic.

Attending someone experiencing a drug overdose in a dark alley to assisting a patient who has had a fall at home – and every kind of health emergency in between – meant that in the Cairns region ambulance paramedics attended more than 78,600 calls for help last year.

According to the Queensland Ambulance Service, paramedics in the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service, in the 12 months to December 2021, 78,603 people rang to request an emergency assistance.

And with five per cent annual population growth expected, this could result in more than 82,533 requests for an ambulance.

The workload of Queensland Ambulance officers is increasing, with paramedics called to over 78,000 jobs in Cairns and surrounding areas in 2021. Advanced Care Paramedic Jess Newman and Acting Senior Operations Supervisor Christian Schonenbreger are ready to answer any call for help. Picture: Brendan Radke

Queensland Ambulance Service Cairns acting director Rita Kelly said she felt the increase in the number of people wanting an ambulance was due to more people moving to the area plus Covid’s impact on people being able to get to see their GP.

Ms Kelly said with the expected increase could mean another 3930 calls for an ambulance in the region during 2022.

“I think mostly it comes down to population growth and we expect this will increase around 5 per cent annually,” she said.

“There’s also been a large increase in the number of mental health cases we attend, as the stigma around this has decreased so people don’t have to suffer.

“We have a response model which has a paramedic and a psychologist who respond to specific cases to achieve the best outcomes.

Queensland Ambulance Service Cairns director of operations Rita Kelly said the paramedics working in the Cairns region do an incredible job and she expected the number of call-outs they will receive will grow around 5 per cent annually. Picture: Brendan Radke

Ms Kelly said she believed that the paramedics operating in the region were easily among the top of their profession.

“Our people are amazing,” she said.

“They can be going to dark areas such as alleys and toilet cubicles and in nightclubs to help people, there’s a vast landscape of places they go and they do a great job,” she said.

“We have some of the best paramedics in the country, they love their job, their community and they have a wonderful camaraderie.”

Ms Kelly said ensuring the community have the best possible experience when paramedics are called it is critical for everyone involved.

The workload of Queensland Ambulance officers is increasing, with paramedics called to over 78, o00 jobs in Cairns and surrounding areas in 2021. Advanced Care Paramedic Jess Newman and Acting Senior Operations Supervisor Christian Schonenbreger are ready to answer any call for help. Picture: Brendan Radke

“If someone needs an ambulance it’s a time in their life when things are not going well for them,” she said.

“It’s a testament to our paramedics that they can show care and empathy and non-judgemental approach to people.

“This also creates longevity in your job and respect for the community. because paramedics are trusted professionals, they really do change people’s lives.”

Originally published as Why Cairns Ambulance call outs might increase by 4000 in 2022