Ten Ambulance Tasmania stations left without volunteers, union claims

Multiple ambulance stations operated without volunteers this week, in what the paramedics’ union has called a “dangerous” symptom of a sick system.

A Tasmanian Ambulance. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

THE health union claims 10 Tasmanian ambulance stations went without volunteers on Tuesday night — a “dangerous” symptom of a system it has labelled sick.

Health and Community Services Union state secretary Tim Jacobson said swift action was needed to ensure the state’s ambulance service could properly service the community.

“We have never seen the circumstances that have existed over the last few days, ever,” Mr Jacobson said.

“And the lengths to which the ambulance service has had to go to provide what is normal ambulance support to the community is extraordinary.”

Mr Jacobson said data given to the union showed 10 stations went without volunteers on Tuesday, meaning there were cases in which only one paramedic could respond.

“Anecdotally, the message is [volunteers are] as fatigued as salaried crews,” Mr Jacobson said. “People are volunteers because they want to help their local community, not because they want to prop up the ambulance service.”

Health Minister Sarah Courtney said she acknowledged ramping as an issue of concern and “one we have committed to address”.

“The Access Solutions Meeting Action Plan contains initiatives that will deliver improved patient flow at our hospitals,” Ms Courtney said.

Issues within Ambulance Tasmania recently saw a patient’s relative forced to drive an ambulance while a paramedic delivered care.

On Sunday night a crew from Launceston was redeployed to Bridgewater to help meet demand. And a surge in demand late last month left ambulance staff working up to 16-hour shifts — including some who were forced to work for 10 hours without a break.

Mr Jacobson said money spent on overtime would be better used paying the salaries of more permanent employees within the system.