BREAKTHROUGH ON PARAMEDICS’ ROSTERS
Published Friday, 12 October, 2007 at 01:37 PM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
7 October 2007
A new rostering system that gives paramedics more consecutive days away from work has been developed as part of a review by the Queensland Ambulance Service, Premier Anna Bligh said today.
Ms Bligh said the proposed roster would address key concerns over fatigue among paramedics, leading to better morale among front-line staff.
“Combined with the additional 250 staff and extra resources the State Government is injecting into the service this year, this move will lead to a significant reduction in ambulance response times,” Ms Bligh said.
“It’s a win for the public and a win for our paramedics.”
The proposed new rosters will see front-line staff at the state’s 90 24-hour stations moving to 12-hour shifts, meaning they will work four days on, four days off.
Combined with the 38-hour week effective from October1, it will mean the state’s 3000 front-line staff will effectively receive nine weeks’ leave a year.
Ms Bligh said the Government and the QAS had listened to the concerns of paramedics over rosters and managing fatigue for front-line officers.
“This is a breakthrough that will address the concerns paramedics have expressed over their work-life balance,” she said.
“Although they will work more hours in a day, they’ll in effect bank that time. They’ll get more days off in a row, and more frequently than they do now.
“It’s a demanding job, everyone appreciates that. The nature of the job, combined with the shiftwork involved can be demanding on paramedics and their families.
“This proposal will allow them more time to relax at the end of a tough working week and will give key front-line staff more time to recharge their batteries.”
Ms Bligh said the proposed new roster covered staff at the state’s busiest ambulance stations, which between them accounted for 86% of the QAS workload.
She said the breakthrough came out of an evaluation conducted by the QAS and the paramedics’ representatives from the Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union.
“The union has worked with us to deliver a good outcome for their members and I congratulate them for that. We’ll continue to work with them to ensure our record spending on the QAS translates into improved service for Queenslanders,” Ms Bligh said.
Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said consultation with staff around the state would start immediately with a view to implementing the rosters early next year. The LHMU also would be involved in the talks.
He said another key feature of the proposed roster was aimed at reducing shift over-runs, where paramedics are called out on jobs towards the end of their shift.
“We will utilise support staff to ensure that if someone is out on a job that runs them into overtime, that is the last job they will do for the shift. They’ll finish that job and then go home,” he said.
Mr Roberts said that concerns about the current roster arrangements had been raised with him as he met with ambulance officers around the State.
“The current roster system was developed with the health and wellbeing of our paramedics in mind – reducing the maximum rostered shift from 14 hours to 10.
“This isn’t about overturning the roster reform process – it is about looking to see if we can make it work better."
More information: Premier’s Office 3224 4500
A new rostering system that gives paramedics more consecutive days away from work has been developed as part of a review by the Queensland Ambulance Service, Premier Anna Bligh said today.
Ms Bligh said the proposed roster would address key concerns over fatigue among paramedics, leading to better morale among front-line staff.
“Combined with the additional 250 staff and extra resources the State Government is injecting into the service this year, this move will lead to a significant reduction in ambulance response times,” Ms Bligh said.
“It’s a win for the public and a win for our paramedics.”
The proposed new rosters will see front-line staff at the state’s 90 24-hour stations moving to 12-hour shifts, meaning they will work four days on, four days off.
Combined with the 38-hour week effective from October1, it will mean the state’s 3000 front-line staff will effectively receive nine weeks’ leave a year.
Ms Bligh said the Government and the QAS had listened to the concerns of paramedics over rosters and managing fatigue for front-line officers.
“This is a breakthrough that will address the concerns paramedics have expressed over their work-life balance,” she said.
“Although they will work more hours in a day, they’ll in effect bank that time. They’ll get more days off in a row, and more frequently than they do now.
“It’s a demanding job, everyone appreciates that. The nature of the job, combined with the shiftwork involved can be demanding on paramedics and their families.
“This proposal will allow them more time to relax at the end of a tough working week and will give key front-line staff more time to recharge their batteries.”
Ms Bligh said the proposed new roster covered staff at the state’s busiest ambulance stations, which between them accounted for 86% of the QAS workload.
She said the breakthrough came out of an evaluation conducted by the QAS and the paramedics’ representatives from the Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union.
“The union has worked with us to deliver a good outcome for their members and I congratulate them for that. We’ll continue to work with them to ensure our record spending on the QAS translates into improved service for Queenslanders,” Ms Bligh said.
Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said consultation with staff around the state would start immediately with a view to implementing the rosters early next year. The LHMU also would be involved in the talks.
He said another key feature of the proposed roster was aimed at reducing shift over-runs, where paramedics are called out on jobs towards the end of their shift.
“We will utilise support staff to ensure that if someone is out on a job that runs them into overtime, that is the last job they will do for the shift. They’ll finish that job and then go home,” he said.
Mr Roberts said that concerns about the current roster arrangements had been raised with him as he met with ambulance officers around the State.
“The current roster system was developed with the health and wellbeing of our paramedics in mind – reducing the maximum rostered shift from 14 hours to 10.
“This isn’t about overturning the roster reform process – it is about looking to see if we can make it work better."
More information: Premier’s Office 3224 4500