NSW Paramedics are angry the Berejiklian Government has still not rolled out security upgrades they promised more than two years ago.
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The Australian Paramedics Association say the latest announcement of promises from the Berejiklian Government on safety and security won’t resolve the alarming rate of assaults ambulance officers face each year.
“Paramedics were promised two years ago that these security upgrades would be rolled out as soon as possible and we are still waiting,” Australian Paramedics Association (NSW) Secretary Steve Pearce said.
“Our members are being confronted by violence on a daily basis and having to manage extremely aggressive and drug affected patients, family members and bystanders.
“We were asked to be patient while upgrades to sub-standard radio equipment, duress alarms and vehicle location devices were installed and we are concerned about the lack of action.”
Mr Pearce said Paramedics have no confidence that when they call for help, the current technology will know where they are.
“We are still waiting for an upgrade to a failed duress alarm system, we are still waiting for handheld radios and we are still waiting for an ambulance tracking system that provides accurate locations when paramedics call for help,” he said.
“Functioning mobile data terminals, electronic medical records, eradication of radio black spots and one portable radio per paramedic should already be in place. When, and only when, all these are delivered will paramedics feel their safety is valued by the NSW Government.”
However, a NSW Ambulance spokesperson said steps have already been taken to improve job safety for Paramedics.
“All front-line paramedics and triple zero call takers will undergo mandatory face-to-face training in de-escalating violent situations under a $3.3 million package aimed at improving their job safety,” the spokesperson said.
“The three-day training program includes Occupational Violence Training and will be implemented over the next three years. Also, the roll-out of duress and communications capabilities in all ambulance vehicles is underway.
“All technology commitments will be completed by mid-2018 and these reforms will go a long way to further protect NSW Ambulance paramedics, but we ask that the community treat our staff with nothing but respect.”