Ambos under the knife
PARAMEDICS fear fast response times of ambulances will be put at risk by the State Government's cuts.
They were particularly concerned the State Government planned to close the local communications centre and have a statewide, centralised centre in Brisbane.
Gracemere advanced care paramedic and union delegate Stephen Paton yesterday said this was one of the big concerns with the State Government's 345 job cuts from the Queensland Ambulance Service across the state, with Central Queensland cuts yet to be outlined to employees.
He said QAS employees had heard the State Government had this plan, but initial email exchanges neither confirmed nor denied it.
Mr Paton said not only would this mean the loss of 36 local jobs, but also the loss of local knowledge to help determine where an emergency was located and how best to direct ambulance drivers.
"We've already had two coronial inquests in Mackay where local knowledge was missing and the people died," Mr Paton said.
He said after those inquests, the issues were dealt with and fixed.
Late yesterday afternoon, the union received word the State Government had promised the Rockhampton centre would not be closed.
This also came as the State Government yesterday backflipped on Rural Fire Service job cuts, claiming the 55 job cuts from regional areas were prematurely announced.
Details of cuts to the region were expected to be outlined to staff by the end of today.
