NSW Ambulance moves to restrict the numbers of specialist paramedics in rural and regional parts of the state will lead to a “second-tier service to the public”.
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So said the Australian Paramedics Association (NSW) secretary Steve Pearce.
Mr Pearce and APA vice-president Glenn Congram were in Wollongong on Monday to ask NSW Ambulance why no intensive care paramedics (ICPs) will be employed at the new Berry and Bay & Basin ambulance stations.
It would be like taking the head surgeons away from Wollongong Hospital and operating with the ED doctor to do the surgery.
- APA (NSW) vice president Glenn Congram
Mr Congram said it was also vitally important to stop the de-skilling of paramedics happening in the Shoalhaven and Illawarra.
“The communities of this area deserve the highest clinical care possible,” he said.
“They deserve the same care as what is going to be given at North Shore or Westmead.
“They [government] have already stripped the allowance from ICPs, now they have gone to the next level and are de-skilling paramedics.
“We want paramedics to be trained up as intensive care paramedics and be fully funded by NSW Health and Ambuilance to operate within this area.”
A full-time paramedic himself, Mr Congram said it was concerning that there was only one fully-funded ICP for the “huge area” between Helensburgh and Ulladulla.
“There will be no paramedic specialists left in the area if this situation is allowed to go forth,” he said.
“It would be like taking the head surgeons away from Wollongong Hospital and operating with the ED doctor to do the surgery.
“Illawarrra paramedics are extremely skilled and are very clinically adapted. However they are unable to apply for any intensive care paramedic course at this point in time.”
Mr Pearce added if the proposal proceeds ICP’s looking to move to regional and rural areas would have to take a clinical demotion.
“That’s bad enough but they also can’t use their specialist training to save lives,” the full-time paramedic said.
“And because they aren’t being paid accordingly, the best paramedics may decide to move back to a metropolitan area, which would be terrible for rural people.”
A spokesperson said NSW Ambulance was currently recruiting qualified paramedics for new services at Bay and Basin and Berry.
“NSW Ambulance highly values the skills and expertise of its paramedics and have agreed to meet and discuss [APA] their proposal.”
The spokesperson added “the NSW Government’s Budget announcement in June included a investment of more than $1 billion into NSW Ambulance for 2018-19, including 700 paramedics and 50 call centre staff over four years.”
Mr Pearce added it was concerning that not one was for a funded ICP position.
“What paramedics are asking is why is it that the lives of those living in rural and regional communities not as important as those living in Sydney?” he said.