Labor Candidate for Lane Cove, Andrew Zbik has welcomed the announcement that a Foley Labor Government will recruit an additional 500 paramedics and increase ambulance resources in its first term.

Across the state, resources are being stretched and paramedics are working on their days off to fill gaps in rosters and working long hours of overtime.

This investment in our ambulance service will speed up response times and support our dedicated paramedics.

The 500 paramedics will cost $46.6 million over the forward estimates. This includes additional salary and other recurrent costs – such as meal allowances and workers’ compensation – associated with employing new paramedics.

As part of the $46.6 million, there will be $2.1 million to fund capital costs including additional vehicles, defibrillators and stretchers.

The 500 paramedics will be delivered by 2019 - an extra 125 paramedics a year.

“Paramedics are one of the most crucial roles in our health system – they are the first responders to homes, workplaces and other places when someone is in urgent need of medical assistance.” Said Mr Zbik.

“The role of a paramedic is literally life or death – not surprising that they are considered to be one of the most trusted professions in our community.

Mr Zbik explained “There are less than 3,500 paramedics attending more than one million call outs a year – and they are being overstretched and under resourced following the Liberals’ $3 billion in cuts to the health system.”

“A Foley Labor Government will ensure that patients in NSW receive the best possible care and boost ambulances response times by supporting our paramedics.

“The health system under the Liberals is at breaking point – hospitals failing to meet emergency room targets, slowing ambulance response times and placing doctors and nurses under enormous pressure.” concluded Mr Zbik.

Key Facts

• Labor will spend $46.6 million over the forward estimates to recruit 500 additional paramedics.
• There will be $2.1 million made available for additional vehicles, defibrillators and stretchers.
• NSW paramedics attend more than one million cases a year, but there are less than 3,500 paramedics to attend to these cases.
• Every day around 3,330 calls are made to triple zero. That is a call for assistance every 26 seconds.
• The average number of ambulance responses increased by 1.3 per cent from 2012/13 to 2013/14.
• There are 267 New South Wales ambulance stations, 226 of which are permanently staffed and there are several volunteer-run services.
• In addition to road ambulance responses, the NSW Ambulance Service also operates four fixed wing aircraft and nine helicopters.
• 26 per cent of all patients presenting at New South Wales hospitals arrive by ambulance.