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Winter 2003

HACSU Campaigning for Improved Ambulance Services

HACSU officials and members of the HACSU Ambulance Employees Sub Branch are continuing to campaign hard for improved ambulance services as the long-running Ambulance Inquiry regains its momentum.

The TAS Inquiry, commenced back in mid 2001, has been interrupted by elections and a change of Government but now has begun in earnest again.

HACSU officials have recently met twice -once to discuss sensitive in-camera information - with representatives from the Inquiry, following up on the detailed submission presented in August 2001.

The HACSU submission, along with recent representations have underlined the key issues, which include:

• workload and staffing issues,
• the snails pace of decision- making for reforms within the service in response to changing demands, and the slowness in the implementation of reforms,
• inadequate management structures and strategic planning,
• poor safety and infection control issues,
• ongoing problems with communications and the poor radio network,
• lack of driver training,
• lack of funding for training and equipment for aeromedical and rescue services,
• the encroachment of volunteer services into areas previously carried out by paid and qualified staff,
• that there are simply not enough managers employed within the Tasmanian Ambulance Service to cope with the administration of the service.

On top of this, HACSU has raised the broader issues resulting from community integration of mental health and disability services, use of emergency services by people seeking access to free health with the decline in bulk billing.

HACSU Assistant State Secretary, Tim Jacobson, said TAS ought to be striving to maintain its position of having the pre-eminent ambulance service in Australia.

"TAS used to be Australia's guiding light in terms of emergency services," Tim said.

"But now we have various circumstances which have led to a management structure which appears to be indecisive, inactive and lacking ability to attract funds for essential capital items."

"A commonly held view of HACSU members is that if the Tasmanian Ambulance Service refers an issue to a committee for action, a decision will not be made."

"Simple decisions, such as provision of uniforms, appear difficult for the service to reach closure on."

"The harsh redundancy program and subsequent vacancy control program the service experienced since 1991 saw the loss of 50 % of staff at the level of supervisor.

In addition, positions such as Fleet Manager and one other executive position were lost."

"This has had a very real impact."

"The HACSU Ambulance Sub Branch undertook a survey of members across the State during March and April this year. The purpose of the survey was to seek advice from members about response times."

"We got an extraordinary response, and the response was of a nature that we decided we could only deliver the results within an in camera session of the Inquiry, outside the public hearings."

"The evidence is now all before the inquiry. We hope the Inquiry will move swiftly to a conclusion and that some strong recommendations will be forthcoming which will be rapidly implemented."

"TAS staff needs to see some decisive action for the sake of their morale and to ensure timely and efficient ongoing ambulance services."