75% of paramedics making errors because of fatigue

Paramedics Sam Morrison & Olga Bartasek
at the press conference this morning

A new survey by the ambulance union has revealed that 75% of paramedics surveyed say they have been so exhausted by their workload and long hours they are making errors of judgment.

Paramedics say the findings are further proof of a dangerous culture in Victoria’s ambulance services which they want fixed through their enterprise negotiations.

The survey also revealed that paramedics are averaging just six hours sleep a night while rostered on, with 25% saying they are getting five hours sleep or less.

Renowned sleep researcher Professor Drew Dawson has found similarities between the effects of fatigue and alcohol on performance impairment.

The online survey was conducted over the last week with more than 350 Victorian paramedics, or nearly 20% of the workforce.

More than 10% of those surveyed reported occasions where they worked 35 hours or more without an eight hour break, some working up to 50 hours.

Examples given of errors of judgement include the wrong drugs administered to patients, wrong dosages and falling asleep and missing incoming emergency calls.

Paramedics say an urgent resolution to their enterprise bargaining negotiations is crucial to reducing fatigue in Victoria’s new merged service, Ambulance Victoria.

A key demand is the introduction of 10 hour rest breaks between shifts, a two hour extension on the current eight hour break.

Eighty-seven percent of paramedics surveyed say the current eight hour rest break is insufficient to rest fully.

Steve McGhie, Ambulance Employees Australia State Secretary, said the survey results are deeply disturbing.

“There is an extremely dangerous culture in Victoria’s two ambulance services.
“It’s deemed okay to push long hours and huge workloads onto their staff, with little regard for the impact on them or the public.

“These are tragedies waiting to happen.”

“The question is will the new Ambulance Victoria which starts next week reproduce this same dangerous culture?”

“We need our enterprise negotiations urgently resolved so this new organisation can live up to its promise of providing a first class ambulance service to all Victorians.”