Bob Baldwin, Member for Paterson has rejected a plan to replace highly-trained ambulance drivers with volunteers in Bulahdelah, Stroud and Gloucester.
“This is yet another example of Labor Government cost-cutting in the health system,” said Mr Baldwin.
“If there is an emergency and people need an ambulance, those patients deserve to have fully trained paramedics there to assist them.
“Volunteers are the backbone of our community however, medical emergencies can be extremely stressful situations with multiple lives at stake and it is important we utilise the most highly-trained professionals possible,” said Mr Baldwin.
The NSW Labor Government has proposed the use of volunteers as drivers in some regional areas to limit the number of single-person crews.
“The Rudd Labor Government needs to work with its NSW counterpart to make health services a priority and ensure adequate funding to train more full time drivers,” said Mr Baldwin.
“Getting volunteers from Stroud and Gloucester in the middle of the night is unrealistic and unsafe considering the Rudd Labor Government’s lack of improvements to the Bucketts Way.
“Kevin Rudd promised in 2007 that when it comes to our health system, ‘the buck stops with me’, yet it is now clear the buck has simply stopped.
“Regional towns such as Bulahdelah, Stroud and Gloucester deserve the same services that are found in Sydney and other city areas.
“It is simply not acceptable for Labor to leave regional areas and their patients without adequately trained ambulance drivers just to save a few dollars.”
