Alarm bells were ringing across Emergency Departments on Tuesday as the Queensland government handed down a Budget with a gaping hole where funding for ambulance staff and vehicles should be, leaving the critical services that Queenslanders rely on at risk.
With Queensland’s growing population, ambulance services need to keep up or risk putting millions of Queenslanders in danger.
Modelling shows that demand for ambulances in Queensland will grow at least 6% a year. But this Budget’s planned 225 staff per year will only cover a 4% annual increase in demand – meaning an annual 2% net loss of ambulance services.
Ambulance workers are currently bargaining for their terms and conditions for the next three years. Before this budget was handed down, UWU members reached out to Minister Nicholls about what was needed to reach agreement.
This Minister has provided no reply to this correspondence.
Quotes attributable to Fiona Scalon, Ambulance Coordinator, United Workers Union:
“Queensland is a growing state, and the Government must invest to support that growth, otherwise we’ll fall behind and Queenslanders’ health will suffer.
“Funding for 900 new ambulance staff over 4 years is less than half what the previous ALP Government committed to, and far less staffing than previous budgets.
“For ambulance workers who are already under pressure, that extra annual demand means already lengthy shifts being extended, leave being difficult to get approved, and no respite from a relentless and demanding role.
“For Queenslanders, this could mean delays in response time that could have dire patient outcomes.
“Even the funding earmarked for vehicles is laughable. With a fleet of 1600 rapidly aging vehicles, 170 new or replacement vehicles aren’t nearly enough. This budget won’t keep ambulances on the road, and won’t fund enough staff to do the job.
“The Minister’s complete lack of response says it all.
“This Budget is a slap in the face of hard-working and dedicated QLD Ambulance workers who save lives every day, and the Queenslanders who rely on them.”
Quote from Queensland Ambulance worker:
“This Budget will see paramedics continue to be subjected to psychosocially unsafe conditions and will continue to contribute to rising levels of sick leave and burnout. Our paramedics, and our communities, deserve better.”