UK PARAMEDIC COUP FOR QUEENSLAND

The Queensland Ambulance Service’s (QAS) recruitment campaign in the United Kingdom is continuing to deliver results, with Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts announcing a high-profile appointment today.

Mr Roberts said Ms Jayne Barnes has been appointed Assistant Commissioner for South East Region, QAS.

“Ms Barnes is highly credentialed and brings a wealth of experience to the role, most recently as the Chief Executive of Yorkshire Ambulance Service in the United Kingdom,” Mr Roberts said.

“She has wide experience in both nursing and ambulance services in the United Kingdom, which spans a period of 29 years.

“Ms Barnes has been the Chair of the Ambulance Service Association (ASA) since March 2005, representing all 13 NHS Ambulance Services across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as the public ambulance services of Guernsey, Jersey, Island of Man, and Gibraltar.”

Mr Roberts said her considerable experience is supported by tertiary qualifications such as a Masters Degree in Leadership, Innovation and Change (University of York), a Diploma in Professional Studies in Nursing, and she has been awarded the Commander of the British Empire for Services to Health Care.

“This appointment will provide the QAS with a great deal of additional experience. As the Assistant Commissioner of South East Region Ms Barnes will have the significant responsibility of leading the continued improvement of operational ambulance service delivery to the South Eastern community,” he said.

Mr Roberts said the appointment follows the latest intake of overseas and interstate paramedics to the Queensland Ambulance Service.

“Twenty-nine recruits took part in a two-week induction program at Bardon last month, and are now spread throughout Queensland getting to know the regions they’ve been stationed to,” he said.

“This is the third Qualified Paramedic Induction held by the Queensland Ambulance Service. It includes 25 from the United Kingdom, two from Victoria, and one each from Canada and New South Wales”

Media contact: Brendan Connell 07 3247 8992, 0437 837 976

Tim Shipstone 07 3247 8194, 0409 620 571.