Qld ambulance officers’ time off mounts as physical, mental stress takes toll

Physical and mental injuries are forcing ambulance staff to take an increasing amount of time off, data has revealed.

Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics in action

Physical and mental injuries are forcing ambulance staff to take an increasing amount of time off, data has revealed.

An analysis of Queensland Ambulance Service performance data revealed the injury downtime rate had risen from just 0.41 per cent of all work hours in 2018-19 to nearly 2 per cent in 2022-23 — a near quintupling.

Increases in injury downtime differ from region to region, with Sunshine Coast — one of the fastest growing regions in the southeast corner — had a rate of 3.28 per cent.

West Moreton, which covers areas like Ipswich, had an injury downtime rate of 3.56 per cent in 2022-23.

A QAS spokesman said staff attend incidents which can be traumatic and the organisation has a “comprehensive approach” to workplace health and safety as a result.

According to QAS the increase in injury downtime was a factor of laws from 2021 making it easier for frontline workers to access help for PTSD and policies which make staff feel comfortable to seek help.

“The QAS fosters a culture which supports early reporting by staff of any psychological hazards as we recognise that early intervention leads to better long term outcomes for the person,” he said.

“The QAS will always support staff who need time away from work to seek treatment and look after their mental health needs.”

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli blamed paramedic burn out on the government’s failure to resource the health system, and said taking on double and triple shifts had left hardworking ambulance officers at breaking point.

The Opposition is expected to use the worsening injury downtime figures as an attack against the government amid renewed attention on ambulance ramping.

Opposition health spokeswoman Ros Bates said “ambo burn-out” was an untold story of the health crisis.

WorkCover Queensland’s recent annual report revealed the number of claims for mental injury across the board had increased 28 per cent in 2022-23 to 2532 accepted primary claims, and now represented 12 per cent ($156m) of all statutory payments.

Primary mental injuries can be caused by trauma or other events at work while secondary mental injuries can arise as a direct result of the event which caused a worker’s physical injury or as a consequence of a physical injury.

Originally published as Qld ambulance officers’ time off mounts as physical, mental stress takes toll