Ambos sound a red alert

THE union representing Territory paramedics has called on government to take over ambulance services as overworked ambos grind out 12hour shifts without a break.

United Voice NT took to social media on the weekend to issue a “red alert” on behalf of its “fatigued and exhausted” members.

“REDALERT: 7:00pm tonight. Three of these crews on OT by now, and two of those will be on triple mealie (that’s 12hrs straight without a break),” the union tweeted on Friday night.

“Paramedics fatigued and exhausted – bring ambulance service to government now!!”

A Darwin area paramedic, who did not want to be named, said the current situation was “untenable”.

“We do not have enough resources to cope with demand. We do not have enough crews to cope with the workload,” he said.

“Regardless of whether or not it’s under government control we need more resources and we need more funding.”

The ambo said the issue was exemplified by an incident in which one of Darwin’s four ambulances was sent to Katherine to pick up an obese pa- tient, while another was also out of action last week.

This left just two crews servicing the whole of Darwin, Palmerston and the rural area.

“By rights we should have one ambulance for every 20,000 people and we do not have that,” he said.

Health Minister Natasha Fyles said St John was under contract to provide ambulance services in the Territory until 2021 and had not raised issues of resourcing with her at a recent meeting.

“I met with representatives from St John last week and issues or resourcing were not raised,” she said.

“St John were awarded a five-year contract in 2016, which included additional funding to increase resources and deliver service improvements.”

Ms Fyles said a review of the service by Professor Neale Fong last year did not recommend a government takeover.

“The review recommended improvements to the existing service, including addressing workforce issues,” she said.

“The Department is continuing to work with stakeholders to deliver a detailed response to government.

“We are taking an evidence-based approach to improve services into the future.”