News
19th February, 2020
BALSECC – Ongoing Staffing Problems
The Victorian Ambulance Union Incorporated (VAU) has become aware of many examples where Ambulance Victoria (AV) rural Paramedics are experiencing difficulty in contacting the Ballarat State Emergency Communications Centre (BalSECC) CSP’s, Duty Managers and Clinicians.
BalSECC VAU members have for some time been expressing major concerns in relation to their ability to perform effectively due to inadequate staffing and support, particularly between the hours of 1600 hours and midnight.
During the past six weeks, the Union has received over one hundred complaints from Paramedics who have had difficulty in getting through to BalSECC AV staff. In one case, a Paramedic rang on and off for two days trying to log absence from duty due to an updated Work Cover Certificate of Capacity.
Complaints received by the VAU include details where ESTA call takers have had to transfer 000 callers through to an ESTA Team Leader because they were unable to get calls answered by AV staff. In a separate case, a RefCOMM Triage Practitioner was unable to get through to AV staff after ringing the priority line out four times.
Of particular concern is evidence received by the VAU in relation to patient safety. We have received evidence that some patients have missed out on further treatment, or have received medication that is not authorised (as paramedics must consult with the Clinician prior to administration), because Rural Paramedics have been unable to get through, even after trying to use the Rural Clinician number and Clinician radio talk channel multiple times.
It is unacceptable that AV will not staff BalSECC adequately, and that this issue continues to place at risk patient and Paramedic safety.
Until AV resources its Communications Centres properly, Paramedics are requested to advise the VAU of any difficulties in trying to get through to communications centre staff. Send through your examples via email to [email protected]. We will use your feedback to continue to lobby for substantive changes with AV to improve staffing levels.
The VAU remind members that paramedics should never administer consult only medications unless they have successfully made contact with a Clinician.
In Solidarity,