Ambulance NSW has defended claims it ignored a need for additional paramedics in Wagga and Coolamon.
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It follows a state budget announcement this week, with more funding allocated to the emergency service.
In a statement, Ambulance NSW (ASNSW) said $7.5 million would fund an additional 50 relief paramedics. It said staff members would be added to stations “identified as having a deficit in relief”.
Paramedic union members, this week, said additional funding and resourcing was appreciated but they felt ASNSW had neglected areas across the Riverina with the greatest need.
Australian Paramedic Association (APA) zone liaison Darren Rudd said Wagga paramedics were overworked and their resources “expended”. He said the station often relied on relief teams from outlying towns, which left those areas uncovered.
APA representatives and the Health Services Union NSW secretary Gerard Hayes agreed the blended -volunteer and paramedic – model at Coolamon was not adequate.
In repose, an ASNSW spokesperson said a state-wide review identified Wagga Wagga ambulance station had “a full complement of relief for the rosters they currently deploy”.
“Relief staff facilitate periods of leave and training for existing staff,” they said. “Additional relief paramedics will be placed at Batlow, Leeton, Lockhart, Narrandera and Tumut ambulance stations.”
They said ASNSW had received strong, positive feedback from the Coolamon community about the proposed model.
Outlining the benefits of the proposal, the spokesperson said: “By having additional qualified volunteers in the community, a second emergency call can be responded to, if the paramedic is transferring a patient.”
They said it would help avoid long delays while other paramedics responded from Wagga or Ardlethan.
ASNSW acknowledged some residents and stakeholders did not support volunteers but said there had been a positive interest in applications to join.