Canberra's ambulance services are set to scrap minimum crewing requirements after a history of failing to muster the numbers for a skeleton crew over the past few years.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
ACT emergency services minister Mick Gentleman announced the outcome of the ambulance crew number review in the assembly on Wednesday.
Liberal emergency services spokeswoman Giulia Jones said it was hard to believe the ACT didn't need more ambulance crews while the paramedics' union has welcomed the changes.
The ACT Ambulance Service has used "complex" modelling to determine what days of the week see the highest demands for ambulance and adjust crew numbers for peak periods.
The service's chief officer, Howard Wren, said the changes would help reduce burnout among his 180 frontline service staff.
"I can categorically state that no one is trying to save money here," Mr Wren said.
He said Canberra's paramedics see their highest demand on Wednesday day and Sunday nights, mainly for medical related symptoms, like illnesses or chest pains.
The new policy would do away with formally requiring 10 fully crewed ambulances on call at all times, plus an additional two emergency crews in peak periods.
"That was just an arbitrary number; it does not take into account that the minium crewing level rises and falls," Mr Wren said.
Previously, this required the service to offer overtime to paramedics to fill shifts which could prove difficult.
According to figures published in the assembly, 40 per cent of Canberra's paramedic shifts were short staffed in 2016 - 17 financial year.
The figures were released by Emergency Services Minister Mick Gentleman 100 days after being asked for them in a question on notice, allowing public servants time to "add context".
Now, Mr Wren said the service would aim for a minimum of 10 response teams, but this would not be a set requirement.
The teams could consist of two-person ambulance crews and one-person emergency response crew, with more overtime to be called in at peak periods.
The Transport Workers Union, which represents paramedics, said the revised policy provided better certainty for members.
Union official Ben Sweaney said Canberrans could be rest assured they would be still be getting the best care from paramedics.
The government has previously said Canberra's ambulance response times were still some of the best in the nation.
However, a lack of resources in November last year lead to a Canberra father being told to take his two-year old boy with a head injury to hospital himself.
Mr Sweaney said the revised policy would still be able to keep up with the peak demand as Australia's bushfire season looks set to take a toll on the Canberra region.
"People want to work more days and less nights," Mr Sweaney said.
He said any given day's highest demand tended to sit between 7am and 7pm.
Emergency services spokeswoman Ms Jones told the assembly on Wednesday it was hard to believe the ACT didn't need more ambulance crews.
She said Mr Gentleman had already foreshadowed he would remove minimum crewing requirements.
"Surprise, surprise: suddenly it's the advice of the report that we don't need a minimum crewing level," Ms Jones said.
Mr Wren said a recent round of recruitment to bolster the service's ranks would help fill overtime demand.
He while there was a large number of paramedicine graduates available, there weren't enough positions available in Canberra.
