Nineteen new paramedics will be dispatched to the Illawarra in the next 12 months as part of the state government’s “record paramedic workforce boost” announced on Friday.
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An additional 700 paramedics and 50 call centre staff will be delivered statewide over four years as part of a more than $1 billion investment in ambulance services and capital in next week’s NSW Budget.
A NSW Ambulance spokesman confirmed that the Illawarra will receive 19 of the first contingent of 200 paramedics to be recruited and trained in the first 12 months.
Further south there will also be reinforcements with six paramedics for Berry and 11 for Bay and Basin – with construction of new ambulance stations underway in both areas.
The Warilla-based Triple Zero call centre may also benefit – with 13 new call centre staff to be allocated to the state’s four centres this year, rising to a total of 50 over the four years.
Health Services Union NSW secretary Gerard Hayes has welcomed the government’s commitment, after the union’s many years of campaigning for more staff.
“This will go a long way to improving paramedics’ safety by ensuring two paramedics on each case,” he said.
“It will improve patient care by reducing ambulance response times allowing patients to be accessed and treated in a far quicker time frame.”
Mr Hayes said the staffing boost was vital across the state, and especially in regional areas like the Illawarra.
“More and more people moving to areas like the Illawarra for the lifestyle, and so these emergency services need to be able to keep pace with the growth in the population,” he said.
“We’re also seeing ageing populations in the Illawarra and elsewhere, and this places additional demands on the ambulance service.”
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the 2018 Budget included $944 million in recurrent expenditure – up $51.3 million from last year’s Budget – and an additional $72 million in capital works.
“Today’s Budget announcement is clear proof that the Liberals and Nationals Government uses the resources of our strong economy to better service our emergency frontline health services.”
The investment also includes $18.5 million to expand the Government Radio Network coverage and improve critical communications during emergencies.
And it continues the $150 million strategy to build superstations in Sydney; and the $122 million program for new, rebuilt and updated ambulance stations in rural and regional areas including Kiama, Berry and Bay and Basin.