The Australian Paramedic Association made the decision last night to strike paramedics from last night until 1 June.
The union is calling for a “real” pay rise, another 1,500 paramedics to help with staff shortages, a review of the triage system and specialists in metropolitan and regional areas.
NSW paramedics will not bill patients while taking industrial action. (Isabella Porras)
NSW Ambulance said in a statement that it had the backing of the Industrial Relations Commission to “resolve this planned action”.
“Patient safety is our top priority and NSW Ambulance has operational plans in place to minimize disruption to the community,” the statement said.
Paramedics will not record billing information, which means that patients will not receive a bill to pay for the service.
Triple Zero is receiving up to 500 more calls each day than before the pandemic.
NSW Prime Minister Dominic Perrottet said yesterday that all public sectors will be considered for pay changes during the next budget.
“We have said as part of the budget that we will address public sector wages,” he said.
It comes after NSW Ambulance made a proposal for non-emergency patients to receive alternative transportation arrangements to GPs and pharmacies to help increase emergency services.
Triple zero operators will soon be able to call taxi drivers to redirect non-emergency patients to pharmacies or GPs.
“We think of patients, for example, who have a much smaller soft tissue injury or who need to fill out their script but can’t go to their pharmacy,” said Deputy Chief Commissioner Clare Beech.
“We think of patients, for example, who have a much smaller soft tissue injury or who need to fill out their script but can’t go to their pharmacy,” said Lachlan Rose of Manly Vale Pharmacy.
NSW ambulance considers working with taxis to take non-emergency patients to GPs (9News)
The system is already up and running in Victoria, as the state sees the same health crisis and a major ambulance ramp.
The proposal has not been welcomed by unions, which warn that it could mean incorrect triage of patients.
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“Undertaking triage over the phone can be fraught with dangers and I think it’s a possibility that a patient who should be in an ambulance and instead of a taxi can be mixed up,” said Gerard Hayes of Health Services Union.