In line with the claims, the local Sub-branch of the Health Service Union has requested assistance after an ongoing battle with the Ambulance Service NSW (ASNSW) - following a cut in the number of full-time employees at the local Ambulance Station.

One employee was removed without consultation, from the 18 currently employed.

“The bottom line is, the Service has cut our staffing and this equates to a reduction of officers available to serve the community, without reason or consultation,” the paramedic, who wished to remain anonymous, said.

“It’s not something you can just walk away from and refuse not to come in on your day off; it’s not just a job.

“It’s the lives of the community that suffer; they are really just pulling at our heart strings.”

ASNSW media relations officer Jackie Levett, in a statement released to the Post, said the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) has recommended a 28- week trial of a new roster in Goulburn.

“The trial has been introduced to reduce fatigue and provide an aligned roster by maximising days off concurrently, thereby giving paramedics more rest time. It has not reduced the number of paramedics deployed in the region,” Ms Levett wrote.

Despite this, HSU Sub-Branch Secretary Michael Grayson is opposing the new rostering system as he believes it puts both the community and paramedics at risk.

“There are a number of roster shortfalls within the trial roster that require either staff to make themselves available for overtime, or the use of paramedics from surrounding stations, which removes that paramedic resource from those communities,” Mr Grayson said.

“The other important part of using the surrounding stations’ paramedics is that they only cover part of the actual shift required at Goulburn Station due to travel time and the shift length they work.

“This can see just over half the actual shift required in Goulburn being covered.

“This exposes the Goulburn paramedics and communities to what we say are periods of elevated risk with single officer responses.”

Mr Grayson expressed his frustration, stating that the Sub- Branch believes that the community and Goulburn Paramedics are right to feel short changed by the reduction of staff and the current trial roster.

“The previous rostering arrangements didn’t rely on crews on overtime or the continual need to rob other communities of their paramedical resources to function,” he said.

“The Union has already been required to intervene under the terms of the trial with the ASNSW failing to meet its obligations.

Obviously we are monitoring the situation closely to ensure the safety of our members.”

Members are fearing the worst and firmly believe they would be even further disadvantaged should roster discussions be allowed to commence prior to resolving staffing issues.

The reduction of the staff has resulted in roster inequity, decreased capacity to apply for leave, decreased operational output and increased response times. Staff are perplexed at how the staff cuts could happen as Goulburn’s workload and population is actually increasing.

The local source said “staff are completely demoralised by the lack of consideration the Service is displaying to the community.”

“The population in Goulburn is increasing all the time. We are no longer able to focus on what we are doing because this is affecting our personal lives and creating so much stress,” the source said.

“Honestly I just don’t know what else to do; we have tried to go along with things because we thought it would get better. We were trying not to rock the boat, but we realise now that nothing is going to change. That’s why we are reaching out to the community; we need their support because we just can’t do it anymore.

“We just want our staff back so we can provide the community of Goulburn the efficiency and service we did prior to the staff cuts.

We are hoping the community start to ask why?” The ASNSW assured residents that it has always maintained a full deployment of paramedics at Goulburn station.

“The Goulburn community can be assured they will receive high quality out-of-hospital care by our paramedics in the region. As with every region of NSW, paramedics will provide patients with the right care at the right time in medical emergencies.”

NSW Ambulance chose not to comment further on the trial roster while the matter is before the Industrial Relations Commission.