Paramedics union claims new mental health trial will put ‘crucial’ specialists at risk

The NSW Ambulance service will be dragged before the Industrial Relations Commission as the paramedics union fights to stop the trial of a new mental health unit.

The 12-week trial is due to begin on May 12. Picture: NewsWire/ Tim Pascoe

Some of NSW’s most specialist paramedics have launched workplace action as the paramedics union seeks to challenge the rollout of a new mental health unit trial they claim will put staff safety at risk.

Paramedics have vowed not to support the Mental Health Co-Response Team (MHRCT) trial which is due to commence on May 12, including the reallocation of resources or participating in training.

The Australian Paramedics Association of NSW says the MHRCT would redirect Specialised Operations Paramedics away from critical rescue and high-risk responses to “staff an untested model”.

“Our patients in need of mental healthcare deserve better than being treated as an afterthought. They deserve permanent, evidence-based solutions,’ APA NSW Assistant Secretary Gary Wilson said.

“This action is about safety. The safety of paramedics, of our nursing colleagues, and our patients. These safety risks have been raised on an ongoing basis with representatives of the employer since February.”

Mr Wilson said only a handful of paramedics were trained as Specialised Operations Paramedics, and that it was “crucial they are available when their specialist skills are required like Bondi” stabbing.

“If our extremely limited SOT resources are used to cover for (NSW) Health’s failure to provide appropriate mental health services rather than treated as the scarce, highly specialised essential resources they are safety will continue to be compromised,” he said.

The 12-week trial is due to begin on May 12. Picture: NewsWire/ Tim Pascoe

“Will SOT be available the next time a patient trapped in a fire zone needs medical assistance, or will the assistance for members of the community again depend on our road paramedics selflessly entering a situation they are untrained for, putting themselves at risk in the process.

“This should never be a choice they have to make.”

The union has called on NSW Ambulance to cease plans to use SOT paramedics for the trial, and instead expand upon the “highly successful, evidence-based Mental Health Acute Assessment Team model”.

The APA said they had also requested for the dispute to be urgently listed at the Industrial Relations Commission.

It is due to be heard on May 12.

In a statement, a NSW Ambulance spokesperson said the safety of clinicians, patients, and the community was the “top priority”, and that the paramedics would remain available for incidents requiring specialist expertise.

“The Mental Health Clinician Response Team (MHCRT) trial involves NSW Ambulance Special Operations Team (SOT) paramedics working with NSW Health mental health nurses hosted by Western Sydney Local Health District,” the spokesman said.

“The trial aims to improve the experience for mental health patients by providing a rapid response, assessment and referral to the most appropriate mental health pathway, and by reducing emergency department presentations.

“NSW Ambulance assures the community that SOT qualified paramedics will remain available for incidents that require their specialist skills.”

The spokesman said the 12-week trial would allow SOT paramedics to “leverage their unique skills to treat and assess mental health patients in collaboration with the specialist nurses”.

“In the event the unit is dispatched to a non-mental health emergency incident, the mental health nurse would not be required to provide health care outside their scope of practice,” the spokesman said.

“During the consultation period, an assessment of risks and control measures regarding MHCRT was undertaken and shared with the Australian Paramedics Association (APA) and other stakeholders.

“NSW Ambulance is committed to continue these discussions in the Industrial Relations Commission early next week.”

Originally published as Paramedics union claims new mental health trial will put ‘crucial’ specialists at risk