TASMANIAN paramedics missed more than 11,000 hours of meal breaks in the past financial year, with compensation costing almost $230,000. Paramedics say they are fatigued and emotionally exhausted after working up to 14 hours without a break. Labor health spokeswoman Rebecca White said the figures were clear proof ambulance staff were under immense pressure, saying the government must stump up more cash to ease their burden. But Health Minister Michael Ferguson accused the opposition of shameless sniping, pointing out the numbers were a marked improvement compared to those under the former government. Mr Ferguson said untaken meal breaks had fallen by 2500 hours in the past two years. ‘‘Missed meal breaks are down, ramping has improved, overtime is at a five-year low,’’ he said. ‘‘Paramedics are increasing – we’re putting 17 additional paramedics on this year and another 15 next year – and still Labor and the unions complain.’’ Ms White claimed the minister was in denial, insisting the ambulance service was severely understaffed. ‘‘This is not about the past, this is about what’s happening here today, and the pressure the ambulance paramedics are under today,’’ she said. Paramedic Lauren Hepher said meal breaks were necessary respite in an emotionally exhausting job, and fatigued staff risked putting patients at risk. ‘‘This isn’t just a problem that’s been happening in the last couple of months – this is a problem that’s been happening for years,’’ she said. ‘‘Morale is low, we are exhausted, and it’s pretty terrible.’’ Mr Ferguson said the government was committed to taking on more paramedics, with a new cohort being inducted later this month. He said the overarching aim was always to minimise missed meal breaks, but managing shifts was a matter for management. ‘‘We need to always make our first priority responding to triple-0 urgent calls,’’ he said.
TASMANIAN paramedics missed more than 11,000 hours of meal breaks in the past financial year, with compensation costing almost $230,000.
Paramedics say they are fatigued and emotionally exhausted after working up to 14 hours without a break.
Labor health spokeswoman Rebecca White said the figures were clear proof ambulance staff were under immense pressure, saying the government must stump up more cash to ease their burden.
But Health Minister Michael Ferguson accused the opposition of shameless sniping, pointing out the numbers were a marked improvement compared to those under the former government.
Mr Ferguson said untaken meal breaks had fallen by 2500 hours in the past two years.
‘‘Missed meal breaks are down, ramping has improved, overtime is at a five-year low,’’ he said. ‘‘Paramedics are increasing – we’re putting 17 additional paramedics on this year and another 15 next year – and still Labor and the unions complain.’’
Ms White claimed the minister was in denial, insisting the ambulance service was severely understaffed.
‘‘This is not about the past, this is about what’s happening here today, and the pressure the ambulance paramedics are under today,’’ she said.
Paramedic Lauren Hepher said meal breaks were necessary respite in an emotionally exhausting job, and fatigued staff risked putting patients at risk.
‘‘This isn’t just a problem that’s been happening in the last couple of months – this is a problem that’s been happening for years,’’ she said. ‘‘Morale is low, we are exhausted, and it’s pretty terrible.’’
Mr Ferguson said the government was committed to taking on more paramedics, with a new cohort being inducted later this month.
He said the overarching aim was always to minimise missed meal breaks, but managing shifts was a matter for management. ‘‘We need to always make our first priority responding to triple-0 urgent calls,’’ he said.
Paramedic Lauren Hepher outside Parliament House in Hobart on Thursday. Picture: DANIEL McCULLOCH
