NT union representing paramedics says time for ambulance services to go back under govt

The union representing Territory paramedics says the NT’s ambulance service will never function properly unless it is brought under government.

THE union representing Territory paramedics says the NT’s ambulance service will never function smoothly or be properly resourced unless it is brought under government.

United Workers Union NT branch secretary Erina Early said the organisation had no confidence in St John NT due to its management of staff and resources.

“Our ambulance service has been contracted out to St John NT since the 1970s. They should be able to get it right by now,” she said.

United Workers Union secretary Erina Early. Picture: Justin Kennedy

“The whole service of ambulances is to respond to emergencies … The only way our Territorian ambulance service is going to be properly resourced is for our ambulance service to go back to government. No emergency service should be privatised.”

However, Health Minister Natasha Fyles was confident of the service’s operations under St John NT. “Paramedics are doing an outstanding job in our community, providing vital medical treatment and saving lives, often under very difficult circumstances,” she said.

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“And a 2020 Productivity Commission Report on Government Services shows Territorians agree – with overall patient satisfaction at St John NT at 97 per cent.”

In response to questions about whether resourcing and staff resignations have affected operations, ambulance services director Andrew Thomas said: “St John NT provides volunteer support and an emergency medical response across the Territory, managing the needs of the community in line with the resources that are available to us.

“Like many organisations in the Northern Territory, St John NT frequently has a turnover of staff, while some staff have recently moved on to other opportunities to develop their careers, we have also recently recruited new interns, qualified paramedics and Emergency Medical Dispatchers.”