New Health Minister Guy Barnett must urgently increase paramedic numbers with the latest dashboard data revealing a shocking rise in response times.
For too long now, our paramedics have been near breaking point working under the minority Liberal Government, with a chronic shortage of workers resulting in shifts going unfilled.
In the 10 years the Liberals have been in government, the health crisis has worsened with ambulance response times up 25 per cent as the system struggles to keep up with demand.
Ramping is the worst it has ever been, with our hardworking paramedics rostered to the ramp, removing a vital resource for the community to call on in their time of need.
Disappointedly, these issues were not addressed in the most recent state budget even though a government report showed that the ambulance service is 126 paramedics short.
Minister Barnett must prove he is more than just spin and photo opportunities and create meaningful change within the health system. He should outline what he is going to do to address the health crisis.
I call on Minister Barnett to work with our paramedics and organise a ramping crisis summit, which the Health and Community Services Union has previously suggested, to find a solution to this problem.
Anita Dow MP
Shadow Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing
