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 Robyn Parker slams NSW Government over ambulance inquiry response 

Robyn Parker slams NSW Government over ambulance inquiry response

07 May, 2009 04:00 AM
HUNTER-BASED Liberal MLC Robyn Parker says the State Government has failed to support most of the 45 recommendations made last year by an Upper House inquiry into the ambulance service.

She was backed by Health Services Union organiser Peter Rumball, who said it was galling for a union and its members to be treated so badly by a Labor government.

Ms Parker, who chairs the legislative council standing committee that conducted the inquiry, said yesterday the Government was ignoring the documented need for substantial change "from the top down of the ambulance service".

The inquiry had investigated allegations of bullying and harassment and found that ambulance officers had extremely low morale and no faith in their senior managers.

Ms Parker said that about the only thing the Government agreed to was a review of progress in ambulance reforms a year after the inquiry finished its business in October last year.

"That inquiry is now just five months away and we will see what has happened by then," Ms Parker said.

"Health Minister John Della Bosca says he is already addressing the issues.

"If that's true, why am I still receiving calls from distressed ambulance officers?"

Ms Parker said the committee had three Labor MLCs, two Liberals, a Green and an Independent, Gordon Moyes.

She said the committee split along party lines during its deliberations last year, with the three ALP members producing a dissenting report.

In its official response tabled this week, the Government said the three Australian Labor Party members did not support 11 of the 45 recommendations made by their colleagues.

The Government response said some claims made to the committee lacked evidence or were not tested by the inquiry.

"Assurances given by the director-general of health and the ambulance service chief executive officer that concerns were being addressed were not recognised in the conclusions," the Government said in response.

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What a complete farce - an inquiry that is destined to end up split on party lines - we need an independent inquiry with the power to ensure changes are made in the public interest - we are talking life & death situations here - no time for politics
Posted by progressive thinker, 7/05/2009 9:30:33 AM
Robyn Parker obviously cannot organise very much at all.
Posted by Jess, 8/05/2009 3:32:24 AM
The sad part is that many ambos stuck there necks out for that inquiry and you may rest assured that Greg Rochford, The P.S.C.U and many other Ambulance Service boffins, will ensure that those people are forced to suffer as a result. I am speaking from factual first hand experience. Don't think for a moment that you will receive thorough support from the Health Services Union. Any inquiry or media outlet worth it's salt only has to gain evidence under FOI to find out how many time the Ambulance Service pays barristers big money to cover up in house shortcomings. John Hatzistergos was very aware of these problems and his lack of action only helped him go further up the political food chain. The whole debarcle is something you would expect to only ever occur in a poorly developed country. Absolutely disgusting. Strip Rochford of his public service medal and give him the boot! Then listen properly to what proper, grass roots ambos are trying to tell you and rectify the mess!
Posted by justme, 10/05/2009 1:58:33 PM
Another case of party politics being the paramount result rather than the care and safety of patients and the public generally. It is about time Della Bosca put up and shut up when it comes to health related issues in this State. Every time there is a report, finding etc that critices his domain he comes out flapping his gums with excuses and claims that no patient has been put at risk. Perhaps it requires some of the pollies and their families to be involved in some adverse event.
Posted by Bazza, 10/05/2009 5:02:59 PM
This is just not funny any more. My sister Christine Hodder tried in vain to believe all would work out and that management knew what they were doing and would fix the problems at Cowra Ambulance Station. Unable to cope any longer Christine took her own life. We know the impact that harassment and bulling in the work place has, yet it would seem that the Ambulance Service would rather protect them selves than deal with the unjust treatment of Christine and other officers at Cowra Station. It frightens me that in this day and age such things are still going on. We need proper justice for Christine and to make sure other Ambos are protected and treated fairly with respect and consideration while carrying out their profession which is already highly demanding. I have seen first hand Ambos that have been brave enough to stand up to say what is wrong in the service as it is today pay the price for trying to get someone to listen and stop this unbelievable injustice. Why is this so hard for Greg Rochford to understand what his accountability is and how inadequate his actions have been so far.
Posted by Daisy Buckley, 5/05/2010 12:31:32 PM, on The Herald

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 GALLING: The union is unimpressed with the NSW Government's response.
GALLING: The union is unimpressed with the NSW Government's response.

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