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Summer 2006

Ambulance - Members Survey

HACSU recently undertook a survey of ambulance members. 57 members took part from around the state. The survey confirmed that ambulance members have grave concerns about their working conditions.

Members expressed high levels of concern regarding staffing levels with 80% or respondents mentioning inadequate levels of paid staff and/or volunteers. The number one staffing concern of members was the lack of volunteer ambulance officer

Increased workloads were also of concern with 18% of respondents feeling that their workloads had increased and 11% worried by the lack of meal breaks for ambulance members.

Respondents repeatedly mentioned the lack of appropriate equipment available, particularly cardiac monitors. One respondent wrote that, "one day we arrived to find our truck without a monitor, stretcher or oxygen bag."

Members clearly identified training as another area that was not up the scratch. With a lack of refresher courses and training being the biggest concern for ambulance workers in relation to the standard of patient care provided by the service.

Not surprisingly, job satisfaction for ambulance workers was very low, with 39% of those who completed the survey saying their job satisfaction was poor or getting worse.

The issues rated by survey respondents as the most critical were (in order or importance):
· Single Office response (VAO availability)
· Rostering
· Career opportunities
· Maintenance of current roster patterns
· Improving on call and overtime payments
· Fatigue breaks
· Improvements in training and skills reaccredidation
· Long service leave payments
· Staffing levels
· Wage increases