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Issue No. 224 | 11 June 2004 |
The Passion For Power The Passion for Power
Interview: The New Democrat Bad Boss: The Ugly Australian Unions: Free Spirits and Slaves Industrial: National Focus History: A Class Act International: Across the Ditch Economics: Home Truths Review: No Time Like Tomorrow Poetry: Silent Note
People Importer Wants Indemnity Desperate Ambos Turn to Copper Victims Dusted in Asbestos Row Support Unit Makes Canberra Debut
The Soapbox The Soapbox The Locker Room Politics
Sick Of This Job Office Junior�s Secrets
Labor Council of NSW |
News Desperate Ambos Turn to Copper
Angry NSW ambulance officers have lashed out at a "chronic" situation that saw one of five ambulances "waiting beds" dispatched from nearby Liverpool Hospital without its trolley to attend the critically injured pedestrian.
A woman died after a police officer was press-ganged into driving an ambulance following a road accident in Liverpool, last week. Angry NSW ambulance officers have lashed out at a "chronic" situation that saw one of five ambulances "waiting beds" dispatched from nearby Liverpool Hospital without its trolley to attend the critically injured pedestrian. Officers are threatening industrial action if the situation in the state's emergency departments is not improved. On the night, one set of officers was forced to leave its patient on a trolley at Liverpool while it rushed to attend the road accident, where the pedestrian was discovered with severe head and chest injuries. The ambulance officers "did what they could" but had to press gang a police officer to drive their vehicle back to Liverpool as they had no trolley and had to hold an unsecured spinal board on the floor of the ambulance. The pedestrian was pronounced dead on arrival at Liverpool Hospital. "The officers weren't in a position to give optimum care," says Health Services Union of Australia (HSUA) state secretary Michael Williamson. "Emergency crews should be able to respond to emergencies instead of 'babysitting' patients while stuck five deep at a hospital emergency department." "This is a chronic problem that need s a long term solution." Williamson has called for an improvement to hospital discharge policies to free up more beds and address the 'blockage' in the system. The union also wants an increase in patient transport officers to free up qualified paramedic staff to attend emergencies. Ambulance officer delegates will meet this week and have flagged industrial action if there is no move to address their concerns.
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