Northern suburbs paramedic

"I’ve worked as paramedic in Melbourne for 15 years."

"As someone who’s never smoked, rarely drinks alcohol and never had any
health problems, I noticed I was always feeling tired. I became disinterested
and disengaged in pretty well everything, including my family.

"I also developed digestive problems and was catching every infection doing
the rounds. I previously had good resistance to common colds and other
infections. My tolerance level with my patients had become poor and even poorer with my family.

"The fatigue was becoming progressively worse and I noticed occasions where I
had micro sleeps while driving home after grueling, non stop, 14 hour-plus
night shifts.

"My sleep debt grew steadily with every passing week. I realized that despite
all my efforts to lead a healthy life, the job I loved was probably going to
injure or kill me.

"Paramedics have been raising concerns for many years now about the effects
on mind and body of long night shifts. We’re also routinely denied scheduled
meal breaks. Sadly, these concerns have fallen on deaf ears.

"We are currently seeing many colleagues develop cancer and other serious
conditions, even premature death. The immediate effects of fatigue and long
term health issues associated with regular sleep deprivation are real.

"The State Government’s budget announcements fall far short of addressing the
exhaustive workload which is causing this fatigue epidemic. We need Premier
Brumby to recognize how serious the situation is. We need more resources,
especially overnight, to ease workload and provide the community with a safe
and effective service.

"The current situation is unsustainable and if not
addressed will result in more illness, more accidents involving ambulances, and
death. All of which are preventable.

"In 2008 we need this ambulance crisis acknowledged and fixed. We do not need
more excuses and weaker response targets."

(Name withheld by request)
MELBOURNE PARAMEDIC