Ambulance cover crisis

By LACHLAN MOORHEAD

Residents from Berwick to Sale were without regular ambulance services for several hours last week after Ambulance Victoria was left with a single responder unit to cover the area, according to Ambulance Employees Australia (Victoria) secretary Steve McGhie.
The ambulance shortage, which allegedly occurred from 5pm to 9pm on Wednesday 31 July, was reported by paramedics but is yet to be confirmed by Ambulance Victoria.
Mr McGhie said the Moe and Morwell ambulance branches were reportedly desperate for resources during the ambulance shortage, while other suburbs including Berwick were left vulnerable.
“Paramedics and also the communications officer reported the shortage because they were concerned the area wasn’t covered,” he said.
“We have seen this happen before, not always in the same location, but not too long ago there was a shortage between Melbourne and Bendigo.”
Mr McGhie said the shortage left just a single Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) unit to cover the exposed area and was probably the result of rostering complications.
“Fatigue breaks are likely one of the reasons for the shortage,” he said.
“Paramedics may have worked too much in their previous shift and they have to have at least a 10-hour break before their next shift.”
Ambulance Victoria Acting Regional Manager Andrew Watson said services continued as usual in the Berwick area on the night in question.
“We are not aware of any problems in responding to patients in the area,” he said.
“In our communications centre we can see where all our ambulances are at all times and ensure they are best placed to respond to emergencies.”
Ambulance Victoria Regional Manager Mick Stephenson said off-duty paramedics were contacted on the night to cater for the high ambulance demand across the corridor.
“There was a high demand for ambulance services in Gippsland on the night,” he said.
“We attempted to recall off-duty paramedics to provide additional coverage and were able to staff an extra crew of Ambulance Community Officers to assist our rostered crews.”