Recruiting additional regional paramedics will do little to address flashpoint pressures in urban areas, according to unions, who claim the government is ignoring the real demand facing emergency responders.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
On Thursday Health Minister Sarah Courtney welcomed three new full-time paramedics to the Wynyard Ambulance Station.
The additions mean the station is now fully staffed and is part of the government's $125 million investment to Ambulance Tasmania, including the progressive recruitment of 42 paramedics in rural areas.
However, Health and Community Services Union state secretary Tim Jacobson said boosting rural resources would have no real effect on reducing fatigue and overtime for staff in urban areas.
"The reality is those 42 will go into rural areas, to address some of the big issues we have had there over time in terms of response and fatigue, because they travel long distances," he said.
"But for Hobart, Launceston, Burnie and Devonport, it will have no demonstrable impact on the ramping there.
"We continue to say to the government, the urban areas are the major flashpoint.
"That's where the demand is and the government is ignoring it."
On Monday an 80-year-old woman waited an hour for an ambulance to arrive from the Wynyard station, located 130 metres away from where she had fallen.
An Ambulance Tasmania spokeswoman said the correct protocol had been taken, with calls made to 000 for an emergency ranked on an assessment and dispatch system whereby those in the most need of critical medical intervention, get it first.
Mr Jacobson said while the correct protocol might have been followed, the case demonstrated the wider systematic challenges facing the health system.
"What it really comes down to is the fact that we have too few resources to deal with the demand. That's the fundamental problem here," he said.
"Ambulance Tasmania have applied protocol, but at the end of the day, the protocol means that we haven't got any available resources.
"That's a bigger issue for the government.
"Having a few extra crew at Wynyard is not going to sort that out."
Ms Courtney said the government knows there is demand pressures on the state's paramedics.
"Which is why we are committed to continuing this additional recruitment, as well as working with staff, stakeholders and the community to address these important issues," she said.
Mr Jacobson said HACSU looked forward to sitting down Ms Courtney to discuss the pressures.
However, he said without additional resources she would "end up in the exact same place as the last health minister".