Regions gain paramedics

Boost for ambo services

REGIONAL towns are set to receive a boost in ambulance resources, with a total of 12 new paramedics to be hired across Dodges Ferry, Bicheno, Deloraine and St Helens this year.

Applications for the fulltime positions closed last night.

Each of the stations will employ three paramedics on a rotating roster. At Dodges Ferry, Bicheno and St Helens the career paramedics will cover day shift and be on-call at night, with Deloraine staffed 24/7.

Ambulance Tasmania chief executive Neil Kirby yesterday denied the new paramedics were required because of a decrease in the number of volunteers. “This initiative was about analysing where we could better improve regional service delivery,” he said.

“We at Ambulance Tasmania rely heavily on volunteers throughout the state in our rural areas and we’ll continue to support them. One of the concepts of putting a branch station officer here is to provide local support.”

Ambulance Tasmania volunteer of 23 years Wayne Debnam said the Dodges Ferry crew attended at least five or six cases a week. He agreed a full-time paramedic was needed to help manage the workload during the day.

“We’ve had a lot of volunteers come and go over the years,” Mr Debnam said.

“Mostly we have trouble finding people to cover our 24-hour service because most of the volunteers you get are working. “

Prosser Liberal MLC Jane Howlett said the State Government remained committed to boosting ambulance resources.

“That’s why we are recruiting 42 additional paramedics in rural and regional areas, to ensure we have coverage right across the state,” she said.

“This will help improve responsiveness, reduce fatigue and support our volunteers.”

Ms Howlett said three extra paramedics had already been successfully recruited at Wynyard.

Labor MP David O’Byrne described the State Government’s track record on paramedics as “very poor”.