Paramedics at the Rutherford ambulance station have stood down, after planned union action was denied by their management. $ 0 / (min cost $ 0 ) Login or signup to continue reading A rostering dispute is at the heart of the disagreement, which has seen paramedic crews sent hours away to fill shortfalls in other areas. Health Services Union delegates say the current arrangement is taking crucial resources away from their local community.
Less than two weeks ago, NSW Ambulance put on additional staff at the Rutherford station - which has about 50 paramedics - in response to the needs of the rapidly growing population around Maitland. The new staff allowed the station to put on an extra ambulance for both the day and night shift. However, instead of serving the local community, the extra ambulances have been sent to cover shortfalls in areas more than an hour away, such as Nelsons Bay, Muswellbrook and Belmont.
In response, the HSA declared one of the night shift crews would be pulled forward to the afternoon shift, making it logistically difficult to send them outside the local area. On Tuesday, when two paramedics showed up for their afternoon shift as part of the planned union action, management sent them home. The rest of the paramedic crews on shift stood down in solidarity.
HSA delegate and Rutherford paramedic Adam Kearns said staff were disappointed that the additional resources given to the station specifically for its growing population were being sent elsewhere. "NSW .