Ambo finding worry

IT takes a special kind of strength to be an ambo.

Paramedics are often credited with having one of the most stressful occupations.

They are among the first at accident scenes, injury and trauma. They are often caught in the middle of violent situations and can attract the wrath of drug addicts or the mentally ill when they are in the middle of a psychotic episode.

In Victoria alone, the suicide rate of paramedics is around four times higher than the rest of the state, such are the demands of the job

Last year, Ambulance Victoria teamed with beyondblue to design a mental health training program to better help our paramedics deal with issues of anxiety, trauma, substance abuse and depression that are often associated with the role. The program was backed by State Government funding as part of its $144 million pledge to overhaul the ambulance system.

Yesterday’s release of the damning findings of the twoyear Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission investigation into our paramedics, reveals just how deeply some of those issues go.

The revelations — particularly in regards to offences in our Barwon South West Region — were most disturbing. Accusations of drug trafficking, stealing and using ambulance IV drips to treat hangovers were levelled against 15 local paramedics, while the level of drug taking and misuse across the state was eyeopening.

We had one instance of a paramedic hiding drugs in special pouches sewn into the lining of their uniform. Another accused of supplying a raft of illicit drugs including ice and cocaine to their colleagues. And a local Advanced Life Support paramedic and instructor who admitted to stealing IV equipment to relieve their children’s hangovers.

It is hard to know which came first — the stress and anxiety, or the corrupt conduct and drug taking — but there is no doubt that there are some serious problems in our ambulance service.