News
31st March, 2021
Meal Breaks – Update
As members will recall, on 11 March 2021, the Victorian Ambulance Union Incorporated (VAU) wrote to AV and formally requested the following information:
• The dates, times and duration of all escalations to Code Orange from 1 January 2019 to date, including identifying the factors leading to the escalation (such as workload or serious event such as thunderstorm asthma); and
• The dates, times and duration of all escalations to Code Red from 1 January 2019 to date, including identifying the factors leading to the escalation (such as workload or serious event such as thunderstorm asthma.
The VAU received a response to this request on 26 March 2021.
The information provided demonstrates a significant increase in escalations relating to workload and demand over recent months.
On 30 March 2021 VAU sent our response to AV. For a copy please email the VAU.
Thank you to all members who have been using the VAU Website Report an Issue Page to provide detailed information on missed, delayed and spoiled meal breaks. This information will help enormously in the event the VAU will need to prosecute this matter further.
Reminder: The VAU is not suggesting in any way that our Clinicians, Duty Managers (DM) and Communication Support Paramedics (CSP) or ESTA dispatchers are in anyway responsible for this practices referred to in the attached latter from VAU to AV. Members should know that our communications members have been one of the loudest voices and have been consistently raising concerns with the VAU about the welfare of on-road crews. Their insights have been incredibly valuable. Please remember to be kind to one another.
In solidarity