THIRTY-TWO PARAMEDICS PREPARE TO HIT QUEENSLAND STREETS
Published Friday, 20 March, 2009 at 10:47 AM
Minister for Emergency Services
The Honourable Neil Roberts
The Queensland Ambulance Service’s ranks are set to be boosted yet again with 32 students today graduating from the Queensland Combined Emergency Services Academy, Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said.
Mr Roberts said the students had successfully completed the Diploma of Paramedic Sciences (Ambulance) and would now take up positions as advanced care paramedics at ambulance stations across the state.
“There is no better demonstration of the Bligh Government’s commitments to jobs and emergency services than today’s graduation ceremony,” Mr Roberts said.
“These 32 positions are part of the 250 extra frontline ambulance positions the Bligh Government gave a commitment to creating this financial year so we are creating employment as well as boosting the number of paramedics on the front line.”
The commitment to add 250 extra ambulance officers this financial year is on top of the 255 added by the Bligh Government in the 2007-08 financial year.
Twelve of the new paramedics will work in the Brisbane region while six will be based in the North Coast and South Eastern regions, four in central region, three in the far north and one in the south west region.
Mr Roberts said the addition of the 32 to the QAS’ ranks would ensure the service’s reputation as being the best in Australia would be maintained.
“Thanks to the Bligh Government’s investment in extra officers and new ambulance vehicles, Queensland’s response time for the 50th percentile, 8.3 minutes, is the best in Australia,” he said.
“That’s more than a minute better than the national average of 9.55 minutes and 1.5 minutes better than New South Wales’ time of 9.9 minutes.
“In 90% of code one cases, a Queensland ambulance was on the scene within 16.7 minutes, significantly better the national average of 18.75 minutes and New South Wales’ 19.9 minutes.
“Queensland’s ambulance officer to population ratio is the second highest in the country – 52.4 ambulance officers per 100,000 people - well above the national average of 41.1.
“The addition of these paramedics to our ranks today will serve to support and enhance that ratio.”
However, Mr Roberts said the Queensland Ambulance Service had no other way to go than backwards if the National Party’s planned budget cuts were forced upon it.
“Lawrence Springborg’s 3% productivity dividend would rip more than $29 million every year out of the Department of Emergency Services – that equates to around 400 ambulance officers and firefighters,” Mr Roberts said.
“The Queensland Ambulance Service was subject to an efficiency review 12 months ago which resulted in more than $12 million in savings being identified and redirected towards frontline services.
“The only way the Nationals can squeeze 3% out of emergency services will be to cut frontline services, which means fewer ambulance officers.
“In contrast, a re-elected Bligh Government would maintain its commitment to our state’s emergency services.”
Media contact: (07) 3247 8997
Mr Roberts said the students had successfully completed the Diploma of Paramedic Sciences (Ambulance) and would now take up positions as advanced care paramedics at ambulance stations across the state.
“There is no better demonstration of the Bligh Government’s commitments to jobs and emergency services than today’s graduation ceremony,” Mr Roberts said.
“These 32 positions are part of the 250 extra frontline ambulance positions the Bligh Government gave a commitment to creating this financial year so we are creating employment as well as boosting the number of paramedics on the front line.”
The commitment to add 250 extra ambulance officers this financial year is on top of the 255 added by the Bligh Government in the 2007-08 financial year.
Twelve of the new paramedics will work in the Brisbane region while six will be based in the North Coast and South Eastern regions, four in central region, three in the far north and one in the south west region.
Mr Roberts said the addition of the 32 to the QAS’ ranks would ensure the service’s reputation as being the best in Australia would be maintained.
“Thanks to the Bligh Government’s investment in extra officers and new ambulance vehicles, Queensland’s response time for the 50th percentile, 8.3 minutes, is the best in Australia,” he said.
“That’s more than a minute better than the national average of 9.55 minutes and 1.5 minutes better than New South Wales’ time of 9.9 minutes.
“In 90% of code one cases, a Queensland ambulance was on the scene within 16.7 minutes, significantly better the national average of 18.75 minutes and New South Wales’ 19.9 minutes.
“Queensland’s ambulance officer to population ratio is the second highest in the country – 52.4 ambulance officers per 100,000 people - well above the national average of 41.1.
“The addition of these paramedics to our ranks today will serve to support and enhance that ratio.”
However, Mr Roberts said the Queensland Ambulance Service had no other way to go than backwards if the National Party’s planned budget cuts were forced upon it.
“Lawrence Springborg’s 3% productivity dividend would rip more than $29 million every year out of the Department of Emergency Services – that equates to around 400 ambulance officers and firefighters,” Mr Roberts said.
“The Queensland Ambulance Service was subject to an efficiency review 12 months ago which resulted in more than $12 million in savings being identified and redirected towards frontline services.
“The only way the Nationals can squeeze 3% out of emergency services will be to cut frontline services, which means fewer ambulance officers.
“In contrast, a re-elected Bligh Government would maintain its commitment to our state’s emergency services.”
Media contact: (07) 3247 8997