Community concerns raised over regional Victorian dual-officer crewing model
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews identified 12 priority locations for ambulance crew expansion before the last election — but the overhaul is having unintended consequences.
A pre-election push convert 15 single paramedic crews in rural Victoria into dual crew stations is creating logistical headaches, according to Greg Fithall.
The St Arnaud-based ambulance community officer was recognised earlier this year with an Australia Day service medal after two decades of critical work.
During the 2018 state election campaign, Premier Daniel Andrews identified 12 priority locations for ambulance crew expansion — Avoca, Inglewood, Charlton, Beaufort, Foster Yarram, Camperdown, Terang, Rochester, Murchison, Rupanyup as well as St Arnaud.
The remaining three locations are yet to be determined.
However, Mr Fithall said while dual-officer crewing sounded good on paper, logistically, it would mean responders would be out of the region more often than the current system.
He said the current system, known as a three-line roster, enables paramedics to operate with ambulance community officer support, working as a team.
“That allows the two vehicles to each have a paramedic and an ACO,” Mr Fithall said.
“Changing from the three-line roster to the two-line roster basically means you have decreased coverage in the St Arnaud region, and potentially the other regions (that have been impacted) because (vehicles) will be out of the region more often than at present.”
State opposition MP Louise Staley, whose Ripon electorate covers St Arnaud, raised the concerns of the St Arnaud ACOs in State Parliament earlier this month.
“(Under the proposed changes) there will be no automatic coverage of rest breaks,” Ms Staley said. “This has a high probability of leading to increased fatigue breaks, which in turn will require coverage by staff on overtime. This will significantly increase the cost for Ambulance Victoria and hence Victorian taxpayers.”
Mr Fithall said a meeting with Ambulance Victoria officials to discuss the matter would take place today (Wednesday).
However, the decorated ACO said he would welcome a meeting with State Health Minister Martin Foley to discuss the matter directly.
“It’s a complex issue. If we had a face-to-face discussion about it, I think there’d be an understanding of how these changes are creating more problems than they solve,” Mr Fithall said.
A spokesman for the State Health Minister said: “We are delivering our commitment to convert 12 locations across Victoria into dual-paramedic stations, this includes St Arnaud and Avoca which will convert to dual paramedic branches at the end of June.
“Dual paramedic crewing helps stations to meeting growing and changing demand and continue to provide high quality emergency care to Victorians.
“The Andrews Labor Government will always back our hardworking paramedics, which is why the Victorian Budget 2021/22 will deliver more than $759 million in funding for more paramedics, more triage care and support staff for Ambulance Victoria, as well as targeted funding to improve flow in our busy emergency departments across the state.
“We will continue working closely with experts from our health services, ambulances services, workforce representatives and primary health services to determine where the need is most and how we can best address it, to ensure Victorians get the care they need.”
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