NSW Ambulance (NSWA) will not restrict the numbers of specialist paramedics in rural and regional parts of the state after all.
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In a statement to its members, the Australian Paramedics Association (NSW) said NSWA had backed down and confirmed that specialist paramedics will not be de-skilled.
“That is they will be able to maintain their specialist skills and pay grade when moving to another paramedic position within NSWA. Sadly, in many areas, this is the only way that communities have specialist paramedics,” the statement said.
The move comes just a day after APA (NSW) secretary Steve Pearce and vice-president Glenn Congram met with NSWA representatives in Wollongong on Monday.
The duo wanted to know why no intensive care paramedics (ICPs) were to be employed at the new Berry and Bay & Basin ambulance stations.
At the time Mr Congram told the Mercury it was also vitally important to stop the de-skilling of paramedics happening in the Shoalhaven and Illawarra.
“While this is a big win for paramedics and our communities, APA (NSW) will continue to demand additional specialist positions around the state, including equal access to these positions for employees,” a spokesman said.
“This was demonstrated earlier this year where, after APA (NSW) filed a dispute in the IRC, NSWA agreed to remove unreasonable geographical restrictions placed on applications for ICP positions.
“To date, NSWA has failed to demonstrate why some areas of NSW are entitled to specialist paramedics while others are not.”