Paramedics threaten to quit over rescue services plan
Posted
The New South Wales Opposition says the Government's plan for fire brigades to take on responsibility for rescue services in Wollongong and Camden will lead to ambulance officers quitting their jobs.
The Government says most of the state's rescue services are already provided by the fire brigade and other specialist units.
But Opposition health spokeswoman Gillian Skinner says the move, which comes into effect tomorrow, is purely to save money.
She says some ambulance officers were incensed after they were told of the change last night by text message.
"Within minutes of them receiving their SMS messages in the dead of night, telling them this was going to be abandoned, I received emails as well. So they're texting me, I know they're damn angry and I suspect they'll follow through on their threats to quit," she said.
Health Minister Reba Meagher says the change will lead to less duplication of emergency services.
"This is about bringing our highly trained paramedics back into patient care, but of course those that want to continue the rescue function have the option of transferring over to the fire brigade and continuing that role or they can redeploy within ambulance," she said.
