Paramedics have welcomed the findings handed down today by the Parliamentary Inquiry into rural, regional and remote healthcare, calling for immediate action by political leaders to ensure the recommendations are adhered to.
"The findings detail what Paramedics already know: that people living in rural, regional and remote NSW have poorer health outcomes and poorer access to health services, and that rural communities face critical shortages of healthcare staff.
"It's completely unacceptable that such a gulf exists in healthcare standards across NSW", said Australian Paramedics Association (NSW) Vice President Scott Beaton.
"Whether or not a patient survives in a health crisis should not depend on where they live. Whether or not they get an Ambulance should not depend on where they live."
APA (NSW), which represents the majority of Paramedics in NSW, made six core recommendations in its submission to the inquiry, including updates to deployment modelling, enhancements to non-emergency patient transport services, funding for Paramedic specialists, and a review of current call triaging and referral networks.
"We are pleased that Inquiry has listened to the voices of regional health workers and accepted our recommendations", said Mr Beaton.
"Now it is up to the Government to implement these. We need more specialists for regional communities, adequate resourcing, and a better triage system for emergency calls to ensure the right resource is put on the right job."
Mr Beaton, an Intensive Care Paramedic at Gilgandra in Western NSW, gave direct evidence to the Inquiry, including an appearance in person before NSW Parliament.
"The inquiry heard in detail about the shocking lack of adequate healthcare in communities outside of major cities.
"As frontline healthcare workers, we shared our frustration and heartbreak at watching our communities go without the basic care and resourcing that they deserve.
"The current state of regional healthcare reflects years of neglect and inaction by successive governments. Now it's time for our leaders to put politicking aside and make firm commitments to improving healthcare for our regional residents."
APA (NSW) members are continuing industrial action across the state until 18 May, pushing for commitments in the upcoming state budget to put 1500 extra Paramedics on the road, increase Paramedic wages, and invest in specialist programs and referral networks.
