Coffin messages call for better ambulance service

Herald Sun
Katie Bradford

ABOUT 150 angry paramedics protested outside Victorian parliament today, demanding longer breaks and better pay.

An overflowing coffin containing 5,000 postcards signed by Victorians demanding improvements to the state's ambulance services was also presented to Premier John Brumby's office.

The paramedics, many of them in uniform, held up placards saying: ``We need more ambos'' and "Fix our ambos crisis''.

Ambulance Employees Australia (AEA) state secretary Steve McGhie told protesting paramedics the government must address staff shortages and long working hours.

"Paramedics are working harder, faster and longer, and I don't need to tell you that, you tell me that every day,'' Mr McGhie told the crowd to loud cheers.

"We want to retain them and maintain them in the job, but we also want to attract other paramedics to the intensive care services to be able to provide the services needed for (all of) Melbourne.''

Official reports tabled in Parliament last month showed Melbourne response times had increased from 15 minutes to 16.5 minutes for 90 per cent of ambulances, and from 25 to 26 minutes in rural Victoria.

Mr McGhie said Ambulance Victoria was struggling to fill 358 new positions promised state-wide because it had failed to address paramedics' concerns. peHe laid the blame squarely at the feet of the government, saying it had to take responsibility for the "crisis''.

Paramedics want a minimum 10-hour rest break between shifts, a pay increase and better resources.

Samantha Morrisson, a metropolitan region paramedic spoke to the crowd and told stories of paramedics working 14-hour shifts, day after day, with no meal breaks.

"Mr Brumby, show us that you care about the welfare of the state's paramedics and give us the 10-hour breaks we need,'' she said.

A spokesman for Health Minister Daniel Andrews said the government was in negotiations over a new employment agreement with the union.

"We'd obviously like an agreement ASAP, we've negotiated in good faith and hopefully we will come to an agreement soon,'' the spokesman said.

He said the government made the biggest ever boost to the state's ambulance services earlier this year, with a $186 million package aimed at increasing staff, bringing in two new helicopters and upgrading and refurbishing ambulance services.

He rejected protesters' and union claims that the government was to blame for problems within the service.

Greens MP Colleen Hartland and Liberal health spokeswoman Helen Shardey also spoke to the crowd and slammed the government's treatment of paramedics.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24640968-2862,00.html