Ambo pressure relief
TEN extra paramedics are expected to bring some relief to under-pressure Far North staff who have faced major issues linked to bed blocking at Cairns Hospital.
United Voice delegate and Cairns emergency medical dispatcher Michelle Mantgaris spoke out earlier this year, saying they had reached “crisis point” and lives were at risk with multiple ambulances continuously “ramped” outside the hospital waiting to admit patients.
She said this had created a domino effect where paramedics were being forced to leave smaller Far North towns to cover for Cairns crews stuck at the hospital.
Health Minister Steven Miles will announce today a further nine paramedics for Cairns and one for Cape York as part of a statewide increase of 200.
Barron River MP Craig Crawford, a former Cairnsbased paramedic, said the staff increase would have a “short-term” effect on ramping issues.
“Hopefully now we’ll see less occasions where crews from Babinda and Kuranda are being dragged in to help Cairns and they can stay in their own communities,” he said.
“But we still can’t take our eye off the ball (about the) internal procedures at the hospital … how we reduce bed blocking and getting patients where they need to be.”
Cairns MP Michael Healy said the extra numbers were vital due to the growth of Cairns.
“We need to meet demand by bolstering emergency services and providing the best health care before a patient even steps foot in a hospital,” he said.
“These additional staff have only been made possible by the funding to redevelop Cairns Ambulance Station and Operations Centre.”
Queensland Ambulance Service Commissioner Russell Bowles said the additional staff were a welcome boost for the Cairns and Cape York and Torres Strait Local Ambulance Service Networks.
“We’re seeing an increased demand for our services and having nine new operational staff on the road helping the Far North Queensland community goes a long way towards improving our response capability,” Commissioner Bowles said.
Cook MP Cynthia Lui said the extra staff would be a big boost to remote communities.