19 2019
Share some super benefits with your spouse Did you know you can share some of the super benefits you receive from ESSSuper with your partner? As an ESSSuper member, your spouse or de facto partner is eligible to open an ESSSuper Accumulation Plan account. This allows them to make contributions and gives them access to the same award winning Income Streams, investment options and service that you have. If your partner’s income is less than $40,000 p.a. then you may also be able to make ‘spouse contributions’ into their superannuation account and you can receive a tax rebate of up to $540 a year.* It’s a great way to share the benefits of ESSSuper with your loved one, and help build the future you want together.
To see if a Spouse Account could benefit you, visit esssuper.com.au/Spouse
SUPERRATINGS PLATINUM 2019 MYCHOICE SUPER
7
7 YR PLATINUM PERFORMANCE 2012–2019
SUPERRATINGS PLATINUM 2019 PENSION
10
10 YR PLATINUM PERFORMANCE 2009–2019
www.superratings.com.au
Please note that spouse contributions can only be made where your spouse is under 70 years of age. For further information, please refer refer to the fees and costs guide (AP.7) on our website www.esssuper.com.au.
*
Emergency Services Superannuation Board ABN 28 161 296 741 the Trustee of the Emergency Services Superannuation Scheme ABN 85 894 637 037 (ESSSuper). The information contained in this document is of a general nature only. It should not be considered as a substitute for reading ESSSuper’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) that contains detailed information about ESSSuper products, services and features. Before making a decision about an ESSSuper product, you should consider the appropriateness of the product to your personal objectives, financial situation and needs. It may also be beneficial to seek professional advice from a licensed financial planner or adviser. An ESSSuper PDS is available at www.esssuper.com.au or by calling 1300 650 161.
VOLUME 10 ISSUE 3 2019
NSW Bureau of Health quarterly report
What to do before the ambulance arrives
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Body cameras to protect our paramedics
The importance of first aid
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY Steve Mitchell E: TWUAmbulance@act.twu.com.au P: 02 6280 9353
NORTHERN TERRITORY Erina Early E: erina.early@unitedvoice.org.au P: 0400 030 834
NEW SOUTH WALES Greg Bruce E: GBruce@ambulance.nsw.gov.au P: 0408 020 609
QUEENSLAND Debbie Gillott E: debbie.gillott@unitedvoice.org.au
Ambulance Active Official Publication of National Council of Ambulance Unions
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PUBLISHER Ambulance Active is published by Countrywide Austral. Countrywide Austral adheres to stringent ethical advertising practices and any advertising inquiries should be directed to:
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FEATURES 05 From the President 06 Industrial Reports Bureau of Health 11 NSW quarterly report 13 Summit on violence apps everyone should 15 Emergency have on their smart phone cameras to protect 17 Body our paramedics 18 Paramedic assault
SOUTH AUSTRALIA Phil Palmer E: info@aeasa.com.au P: 08 8340 3511 TASMANIA Tim Jacobson E: tim@hacsutas.net.au P: 1300 880 032
wage for paramedics 20 Fair in New Zealand Voice QLD plea is heard. 23 United What next? or public health 24 Private insurance? Health Department’s 25 WA $750,000 climate change inquiry to do before the 26 What ambulance arrives 27 The importance of first aid 29 Eureka Stair Climb
VICTORIA P: 03 9235 7777 WESTERN AUSTRALIA Pat O’Donnell E: wa@unitedvoice.org.au P: 08 9388 5400
Disclaimer: Countrywide Austral (“Publisher”) advises that the contents of this publication are at the sole discretion of the National Council of Ambulance Unions and the publication is offered for background information purposes only. The publication has been formulated in good faith and the Publisher believes its contents to be accurate, however, the contents do not amount to a recommendation (either expressly or by implication) and should not be relied upon in lieu of specific professional advice. The Publisher disclaims all responsibility for any loss or damage which may be incurred by any reader relying upon the information contained in the publication whether that loss or damage is caused by any fault or negligence on the part of the publisher, its directors and employees. Copyright: All advertisements appearing in this publication are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced except with the consent of the owner of the copyright. Advertising: Advertisements in this journal are solicited from organisations and businesses on the understanding that no special considerations other than those normally accepted in respect of commercial dealings, will be given to any advertiser.
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the PRESIDENT NACAU BECOMES TRANS-TASMAN
INCOMING EXECUTIVE
An historic vote was held at the NCAU National Conference in Adelaide in August to admit First Union (NZ) as a full council member of the National Council of Ambulance Unions. First Union’s predecessor, the National Distribution Union, was first admitted as an associate member of NCAU back in 2009. Since then they have been regular attendees at annual conferences and participated in regular teleconferences, sharing their experiences in dealing with St John Ambulance NZ and providing details of their significant campaigns. Their admission as a full member was proposed by TWU ACT and passed unanimously with acclamation. As a result of their inclusion, a name change was also voted upon to more accurately reflect the new international nature of our organisation. The Australasian Council of Ambulance Unions (ACAU) was agreed as the new name for our council, reflecting the Trans-Tasman nature of our membership.
As called for in our rules, all positions were declared vacant at the Annual General Meeting. In an uncontested election some old and new faces filled the positions:
REVIEW OF GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS At the General Meeting of the ACAU, held on August 14th, it was resolved to review the Council’s current governance structures and financial arrangements. The existing Rules and Objectives are largely unchanged from those ratified when the NCAU was first formed back in 2008. Members believe that it is now prudent to review these to ensure they are fit for purpose for our expanding council and that they comply with relevant or proposed legislation. The incoming Executive has been tasked to prioritise the investigation of options for formalising NCAU’s governance structures, with a view to making recommendations to enable them to be finalised within the next 12 months.
AMBULANCE ACTIVE
President:
Steve Fraser (HSU NSW)
Vice Presidents: John Millwood (United Voice (QLD) Sarah Stone (FIRST Union (NZ) Secretary:
Jim Arneman (TWU ACT)
Asst. Secretary:
Erina Early (United Voice NT)
Treasurer:
Leah Watkins (AEA SA)
Asst. Treasurer:
Simone Haigh (HACSU TAS)
2020 ANNUAL CONFERENCE FIRST Union have kindly offered to host the 2020 Annual Conference in New Zealand. This will be the first time the Council has headed “offshore” and it promises to be a terrific experience for us all! I look forward to working with all unions as your new President to ensure ACAU cements its presence as the peak body representing paramedic union members across Australia and New Zealand.
Steve Fraser ACAU President
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INDUSTRIAL REPORTS
INDUSTRIAL REPORTS ACT ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT At the time of writing this report, the TWU is in the process of organising general meetings to approve the ACT Ambulance Service and Governments Offer which was tabled in October 2019. Once these meetings have been held, the formal offer will be sent out to a member’s ballot, before ratification by Fair Work. This has been a long and frustrating negotiation, with the previous agreement having expired in October 2017. The Delegates Caucus has endorsed the offer in principle, which has the following notable inclusions: • 4-year term (the new agreement expires in 2021). • 10.85% pay rise over 4 years, fully back payable to October 2017. • Additional 2% employer superannuation contribution if staff contribute a minimum of 3% (this will bring employer contribution rate to 11.5% by 1 July 2020) • Facilitative Clause with a 12-month deadline to indicate ESA and Government commitment to all outstanding Blueprint for Change deliverables, including full implementation of the ACTAS Leadership Framework, the implementation of alternate care pathways and a modernisation of the management structure. • Establishment of a time limited bipartisan Workforce Planning Committee to drive changes to rostering and leave allocation as well as the establishment of a demand-based funding model. • Introduction of an AP (Ambulance Paramedic) 2 classification, to enable AP’s to access higher duties and promotional positions that are currently inaccessible due to EA provisions. • Cessation of long standing HDA arrangements for flight ICP’s, with translation at level of current incumbents. • Establishment of 2 x Project Officer positions to expedite the Blueprint for Change reforms.
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• Establishment of a permanent Executive Officer’s position. • Establishment of a permanent Workforce Liaison Officer position. • A Team Leader position for NEPT • Translation of current non-emergency patient transport staff from ASO classifications to a new classification of Patient Transport Officer. • A commitment to consider a composite rate of pay for Comcen staff in the new year. It is hoped that this will go to ballot prior to Christmas, with ratification in the early new year, subject to it being approved by members.
RENEWED CAUCUS CONSTITUTION AND STATEMENTS OF PRINCIPLES Along with the proposed EA, a new DRAFT Caucus Constitution and Statement of Principles will also be discussed at a series of general meetings in late October, early November 2019. The intent is to renew and refresh the representation on Caucus, allowing for more diverse representation from across all membership groups. As ACTAS continues to evolve and change, Caucus has recognised the importance of the TWU ACT ambulance membership closely reflecting the changing make up of our workforce. This will enable us to continue to robustly engage with ACTAS and Emergency Services Agency management and ensure that any change that occurs is thoroughly consulted with members interests. Once these general meetings approve these reforms, elections will be held in the near future to fill the expanded Caucus and executive roles – then the hard work will begin!
Queensland RECENTLY, THE QUEENSLAND Ambulance Service (QAS) negotiated one off application fee paid by employer. United Voice (UV) industrial officers supported and assisted applications with a variety of matters such as English language, criminal history, mandatory reporting etc. Ensuring members met all obligations of the process.
A small number of QAS employees did not meet the requirements for registration. UV supported these members securing continuing employment in a role suitable to their skill set. Four UV members successful in obtaining a position on the Paramedic Panel of Assessors. State Council have been involved in consultation around the development, training and resourcing of a QAS Complaints Management Unit. UV began building a professional development platform to give members access to on-line, face to face CPD and other professional resources. In excess of $75 000 recovered this year due to member pay issues such as incorrect pay point progression, recognition of prior service, payment for higher duties, incorrect aggregate rate or flexibility allowance, ceasing employment entitlements. A conversion began for nearly 20 PTO and Paramedic members from casual employment to FTE Along with this, Emergency Medical Dispatchers (EMD’s) won their right to access single day accrued leave. With this, roster integrity meant that workers have a fair and equitable process. Off-duty paramedic injured whilst rendering assistance at a traffic incident initially told not entitled to worker’s comp had this reversed once United Voice delegates got involved and supported member of their rights. There was also a reintroduction of the optional wearing of shorts as part of the QAS uniform, which coming into the Australian Summer is necessary. LifeFlight withdraws restructure plan and assault on member’s pay and conditions after UV intervention, and QGAir enhanced conditions to Pilot contracts Members campaigned for an additional 250 ambulance officers and additional vehicle and station resources; the State Government recently announced a record $885.7 million ambulance budget. This will deliver: • 200 more ambulance officers. • 122 new and replacement vehicles. • $55.7 million for facility upgrades. In relation to ramping issues – the union discussions with QAS and Q Heath HHS CE’s regarding managing a rapid AMBULANCE ACTIVE
INDUSTRIAL REPORTS
transfer protocol and general hospital flow initiatives. The ramping crisis will be aided in the following ways. • Members continue to campaign for improvements to ease the ramping crisis by fronting the media, engaging with the community and contacting their local members. • The 200 additional ambulance officers will go some way towards easing ramping. • During the election, members called on the federal government to re-instate the millions of dollars ripped away from health budget. • Logan Hospital in the spotlight for denying paramedics access to the ED by using bullying tactics. • The State Labor government invested $33 million to ease the ramping a Logan Hospital. • Rapid transfer of care is being used in South East Qld and stats show a decline in ramping even in the face of significantly increased presentations. • The employment of Mental Health Nurses to QAS has seen almost 50% of patients not requiring a hospital visit; another benefit to easing ramping. The safety, health and well-being of the QAS workers is a priority, with 3 major taskforces working towards improving and bettering the lives of emergency services workers. Safety Management Committee • No excuse for abuse community/media re-launch • Tier one training review for refresher • Technology • Data sharing • Pilot program mental health liaison’s and co-responders • Duress capability on satellite PTT radios • Situational awareness QPS flags/ cautions Fit For Duty Working Group • Winter flu vaccination strategy • Health & Fitness standards – Sonic Heath Plus • AOD – National registration and impairment • Slips, trips and falls taskforce • Workforce forums and health portal Mental Health Taskforce • To address mental health and psychological well-being of QAS staff • Minimise risk • Implementing 2018 senate inquiry recommendations • Improve mental health of QAS employees In the future, the Queensland Ambulance Service will campaign to engage with University paramedicine students results in almost 100 joining UV as student members. AMBULANCE ACTIVE
South Australia IN JULY OF THIS YEAR, SOUTH Australia Health CEO Chris McGowan did a ride-along with one of our Paramedic crews and was ramped at Flinders Medical Centre for 2 hours. When interviewed by ABC Radio’s David Bevan about his ridealong he was asked what he did in the time they were ramped. To this McGowan responded, “I got very bored and went home.” We shared this via our public Facebook page ‘Ambulance Employees Association’. AEA members and the public were outraged, many being “shocked and disappointed”. The public sent their support and praises to the paramedics, thanking them for dedication and integrity. With ramping hours increasing, late cribs of members increasing, utilisation rates increasing, and increasing reports of adverse patient experiences, we embarked on a sustained social media campaign. We continue to release stories from members and patients. These too are available for viewing on our Facebook page. In September, with ramping reaching record levels at Adelaide’s major hospitals, an elderly patient died while being ramped at Flinders Medical Centre. The patient waited more than an hour in the back of an ambulance before her condition deteriorated, going into cardiac arrest, and passed away shortly after. When interviewed by the ABC in response to this event, the AEA stated “we think this is a violation of human rights. We don’t think it’s appropriate for patients to be sitting on the ramp for extended periods of time outside hospitals - they are being blocked from being able to access emergency care in their time of need. The Government doesn’t seem
to be able to resolve the issue, so we need an injection of funding and staffing to be able to increase our resources.” According to the figures that were released days before the elderly patient passed away, ambulances spent more than 2,000 hours ramped at Adelaide’s public hospitals in August. Flinders Medical Centre reached ‘code white’ the same week; that being the highest-level rating, signifying that all treatment rooms at the hospital’s emergency department were being used. The unrest amongst the membership was undeniable. One member created a public Facebook page calling for others to join, as a way to highlight the overreliance on staff to work overtime to keep the failing Health system afloat. The grass roots movement ‘No Overtime Mondays’ started. The Government filed a dispute against the AEA alleging we had organised the movement, and that it would pose a risk to the community. The original Orders were poorly worded, saying: “The withdrawal, threat of withdrawal or promotion of withdrawal, of a nomination for voluntary overtime during October 2019 by an employee working in SAAS or by a member of the Ambulance Employees Association (AEA) working of employed in SAAS, constitutes industrial action.” It continues, “The promotion of a limitation or restriction on overtime, or the acceptance of an offer or invitation by SAAS, for the performance of overtime during October 2019, by an employee working in SAAS or by a member of the AEA working of employed in SAAS, constitutes industrial action.”
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INDUSTRIAL REPORTS
The Orders stated that if people were “offered” overtime, they must accept, and were unable to withdraw any current nomination. Overwhelmingly, members were concerned they couldn’t withdraw for any reason and as a result, there was a significant reduction in the number of overtime nominations. The Orders revealed a lack of awareness of how the overtime nomination system works – members nominate for many shifts, some on the same day, with the hope of being allocated one or two. The AEA filed an appeal against the Orders on the grounds they were unreasonable and beyond the authority of the Commissioner. This appeal succeeded in securing the original Orders amended, but the damage to the relationship between AEA members and the Government has been done. The Government has failed to respond to our public statements that our members, and the public, are at risk every day due to under-funding and understaffing of the ambulance service, and ramping at metropolitan hospitals – not just a particular Monday. On the Sunday immediately prior to the first date of the ‘No Overtime Monday’s’, the ambulance service was unable to staff 8 ambulances, resulting in those resources being dropped. We continue to advocate for our members rights to work or not work overtime, according to their personal circumstance. We continue to highlight adverse patient experiences, with very long drives to emergency jobs. The Minister’s response? “Business as usual”. The AEA is now preparing for our Safe Staffing arbitration for the South Australian Employment Tribunal (SAET), which is scheduled to be heard in early February 2020. Despite our push for the arbitration to be heard this year given the risk to the community, the Government sought to have it set for early next year.
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Victoria OVER THE LAST THREE MONTHS, AEAV has worked with union members to successfully resolve hundreds of industrial matters. Matters resolved ranged from underpayments to long service leave issues, and disciplinary matters.
KETAMINE TESTING In March 2019, approximately 60 Paramedics were subjected to barbaric hair testing at a station after an audit of the drug ketamine revealed a discrepancy in the stock. It is standard practice for Ambulance Victoria to test Paramedics, usually with a urine or saliva test when drugs are missing. However, in this case, AV decided to go straight to hair testing. Paramedics tested were left humiliated and in tears after a new AV contractor “butchered” the tests, leaving Paramedics with bald spots as large as 50 cent coins. To compound the injuries suffered, AV provided no support to staff and instead told them they would be considered guilty if they did not partake in the testing. One paramedic said, “I was absolutely distraught and the worst part of it is word spread so quickly around the whole organisation that everyone instantly assumed I must be guilty of something”. Testing was called off after AEAV contacted senior Ambulance Victoria management. Unfortunately, Paramedics had already had their hair samples taken at the station. Despite the horrendous method of testing on Paramedics, resulting in emotional and physical suffering, Ambulance Victoria failed to offer a meaningful apology. Instead, creating excuses, diverting blame away from themselves and even attempting to blame others. AEAV Members refused to let AV get away with this and wrote to AV CEO Tony Walker, questioning his decision to remain silent throughout the ordeal. Paramedics also requested that Tony Walker attend the station in-person to face his staff and explain how the testing could go so wrong. Unsurprisingly, he did not respond. Additionally, Gippsland Paramedics united in support of staff targeted by the barbaric drug testing, and together with the AEAV’s legal team mounted a 100page defence. Consequently, AV backed off from their investigation. As a result of members standing up together, numerous jobs were saved and Members are now united in a bargaining claim to stop any cruel drug testing like this ever happening again. The AEAV bargaining claim demands
that AV set requirements in the new Agreement for: • Consent requirements • Agreed drug testing providers • Consultations with staff and the union regarding rights and obligations prior to testing By AEAV members uniting to stand up against being mistreated and disrespected they have shown that when we stand together in union, we win.
LICENSING ISSUE, EAV SAVES PARAMEDIC’S JOB The AEAV has recently assisted one of our Members who lost their driver’s license without notifying AV. The Member was immediately subjected to a disciplinary investigation with the real prospect of termination due to numerous breaches of AV policy. With the union’s assistance, the Member kept their job, did not receive a warning, and is stood down until their license is re-issued. The member looks forward to getting back on the road and saving lives. Being subject to a disciplinary investigation can be a daunting experience for Members and the Union can provide expert assistance every step of the way.
A NOTE FOR RETIRING MEMBERS PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO RETIREMENT It is common practice for AV to provide members with a Deed of Separation when transitioning into retirement. This Deed outlines that Members will utilise all accrued entitlements before terminating their employment with AV on the retirement date. The Union asks Members to send the AEAV copies of these Deeds before signing them to make sure everything is correct and Members understand exactly what they are signing. Please contact the AEAV for any retirement-related queries.
CAMPAIGNING UPDATE FIGHTING PRIVATISATION In every state around the country, United Voice members have a long and proud history of fighting against the privatisation of Government services. Once a service is privatised however, it is difficult to bring services back in house – this requires a comprehensive leverage campaign, and, crucially, bringing in members of the public to support the campaign. This made a recent decision all the more noteworthy. In August, after a longstanding campaign from community and Union Members, the Andrews Labor Government announced that the Mildura Base Hospital will transition to full public AMBULANCE ACTIVE
INDUSTRIAL REPORTS
“As a result of
members standing up together, numerous jobs were saved and Members are now united in a bargaining claim to stop any cruel drug testing like this ever happening again.
“
operation in September next year. This is a significant decision and a testament to the power of Union Members and public working together to improve health outcomes in the community.
BARGAINING Following recent media reports about the impact of the Government wages policy (2% per year) increasing pressure on AV, management has put forward a proposal for new classification roles for long-serving employees. The proposal is a step in the right direction to delivering fair wages, but there is a long way to go as the proposal raises a lot of questions about how, and to who, it will be applied. AV has proposed to make significant changes to the classification structure. This includes a new higher pay rate for long servicing employees who agree to take on new additional roles/qualifications or duties. It may also include breaking up the pay rates between the current stages (currently set as ALS 1, 3 and 6). AV has put conditions on the proposal. No one is automatically entitled to the increase as you would have to take on a new role or qualification. The full detail of the proposal is still being worked through by AV. There are serious questions to be answered. With such a complicated proposal, the devil is in the detail and it is vital for Paramedics in Victoria to understand what the changes mean. AEAV have asked AV to respond to all our concerns, including: • The exclusion of ALS paramedics with shorter years of service or some specialist classifications AMBULANCE ACTIVE
• The mandatory requirement for completing additional qualifications • The impact in regional areas where different qualifications are required • The uncertainty about what qualifications/duties you have to take on to get the new rate • The exact staging of new stages between ALS 1, 3 and 6 • The impact of the proposal on overall annual wage increases
PARAMEDIC HEALTH AND SAFETY Exposure to trauma is an unavoidable feature of being a Paramedic, and this exposure increases the prevalence of several mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Paramedics and the AEAV are speaking out about needing the support of
the community to win protections for psychological health in the workplace. Victorian Paramedics have spent the last 3 months campaigning for stronger health and safety laws to be included in the Occupational Health and Safety model legislation. Stronger legislation and regulations on psychological health will increase protection against psychological injury to Paramedics. As such, the AEAV has called on Jill Hennessy, the Victorian AttorneyGeneral & Minister for Workplace Safety, to support the better regulation of risks to mental health. Psychological health formally recognised in law would mean putting real regulations in place to ensure employers have a responsibility to protect against risk to mental health.
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The Graduate Certificate of Aeromedical Retrieval offers current and experienced clinicians an opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills to enable them to practice at an advanced level in the aeromedical retrieval setting. This online course is available to suitably qualified health professionals who are aiming to improve their clinical practice and knowledge in the delivery of aeromedical retrieval services.
Intakes First Semester (February) Course Structure The Graduate Certificate of Aeromedical Retrieval consists of 4 units of study (24 credit points). All participants complete the following units (12 points):
It is designed to prepare clinicians for future positions in aeromedical retrieval practice, leadership, and coordination.
• PAR5200 Introduction to aeromedical retrieval
The development of advanced techniques and treatment regimes, coupled with an understanding of local and global aeromedical retrieval systems will enable graduates to provide out-of-hospital care to patients in a diverse range of situations at the highest level.
Selection of the following units is based on clinical experience, current level of practice and area of interest (12 points):
Participants will be expected to demonstrate clinical competence in the aeromedical retrieval setting using a patient centric approach, that utilises effective communication techniques and advanced clinical reasoning.
• PAR5210 Professional practice in aeromedical retrieval
• PAR5220 Clinical aeromedical retrieval for advanced life support or critical care practitioners, OR • PAR5250 Clinical aeromedical retrieval for intensive care xparamedics • PAR5230 Aeromedical retrieval coordination, OR • PAR5240 Aeromedical retrieval rescue for intensive care paramedics
Entry requirements The Graduate Certificate of Aeromedical Retrieval is available to experienced practicing paramedics, nurses or doctors who meet the following criteria:
PATHWAYS
• An Australian undergraduate degree in a relevant health discipline;
Monash Paramedicine is a world leader in education and research and expects graduates to develop and demonstrate core attributes pertinent to advanced practice, including professionalism, leadership, teamwork, patient centred care, reflective practice, and advanced clinical reasoning.
• Professional registration to practice as a health care professional in a relevant discipline; • At least two years of full-time experience in a relevant discipline; Relevant disciplines include paramedicine, nursing and medicine.
Graduation from this course may provide a pathway to the Master of Specialist Paramedic Practice (M6015) or other Postgraduate Programs at Monash University.
Mode of study This course is completed entirely online via distance education. Duration 1 year (part-time)
Contact Details and Enquiries Further details about our Postgraduate courses can be found at the Department of Paramedicine Postgraduate website: monash.edu/medicine/spahc/cehpp/graduate-certificate-ofaeromedicalretrieval
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Or through Future Student Enquiries: Tel: 1800 MONASH (1800 666 274) Email: register.monash.edu.au/enquiry
NSW BUREAU OF HEALTH QUARTERLY REPORT Ambulance services and public hospitals in NSW have undergone a busy period, as shown in the latest quarterly report. The Bureau of Health Information (BHI) released in September its Healthcare Quarterly report, covering April to June. THERE WERE MORE THAN 754,000 presentations to emergency departments, increasing 8.2 per cent compared to the same quarter in 2018. Seven in 10 patients spent four hours or less in emergency, down 3.4 per cent. Following this, around 72 per cent of patients were treated within clinically recommended time frames, down 4.8 per cent. Bureau of Health (BHI) Chief Executive Diane Watson said, “Emergency departments were once again busier than they were in the same quarter a year ago, with more presentations overall and more patients arriving by ambulance,” continuing, “A typical patient in NSW will have waited longer for the treatment to start and spent more time overall in the emergency department.” This quarter was also exceptionally busy for NSW Ambulance, with almost 310,000 responses, being up 9.7 per cent. “Despite [the] increase in the number of ambulance responses to life-threatening cases, the median response time remained stable at 7.5 minutes, which is a very positive result. However, response times did slip slightly for less urgent cases,” Watson said. It was the busiest summer on record for paramedics, as the latest quarterly report shows. NSW paramedics responded to 307,749 calls; 28,359 more than the same quarter last year, being a 10.2 per cent increase. ‘Emergency’, that being Priority 1 or Priority 2 cases were up 10.7 per cent, numbers increasing from 13,118 to 136,268. This is the first issue of the report that includes quarterly reporting of seclusion and restraint for the 46 NSW hospitals, with one or more being specialised in AMBULANCE ACTIVE
acute mental health inpatient units. Most incidents of care in these units did not have a seclusion or physical restraint; three per cent of episodes had at least one seclusion event, and 4.4 per cent of episodes had at least one physical restrain. In the last quarter, there was 649 seclusion incidents and 920 physical restraint incidents; up 12 and 109 compared with the same quarter last year. On this, Watson said, “BHI’s quarterly reporting on seclusion and restraint is an important and positive development as it increases the transparency of these practices in NSW public hospitals for the community.” The Australian Paramedics Association (APA) has warned that the increasing demand for ambulances is not being met by a corresponding increase in recourses, putting pressure on the NSW Ambulance paramedics and support staff. APA President Chis Kastelan said, “We are very concerned that this increased
demand is leading to poorer outcomes for the community, with slower response times and more pressure on already underresources, over-worked and under-paid paramedics.” “We are stretched and near breaking point already, with fatigued staff suffering PTSD and burn out in an organisation that appears to be reactive, rather than proactive on staff health and well-being… Delivering appropriate community care requires a timely ambulance response, but with increasing workloads and paramedics number that fail to match growing demand, this is becoming increasingly difficult.” “While staffing enhancements announced by Health Minister Brad Hazzard in 2017 were a welcome step, the reality shown by this latest data is that those extra paramedics are nothing more than a stop-gap holding up an already crippled and under resourced organisation.”
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SUMMIT ON VIOLENCE WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC invariably will result in unpredictable and often dangerous or violent working environments. As a direct result, ambulance personnel have a high risk of personal harm from physical abuse by violent or intoxicated patients. In fact, of all of the healthcare workers in Australia, ambulance personnel were found to be at the greatest risk of workplace violence. Following from a stabbing attack on a nurse in May of this year at Royal Perth Hospital, United Voice Western Australia called on the State Government to act immediately on violence in hospitals by calling for an emergency summit with frontline staff who encountered violence on a daily basis. Subsequently in June, Health Minister Roger Cook convened a “Stop the Violence Summit” in response to rising rates of violence and aggression against frontline health staff in the WA public health system.
“We need to tackle
this issue at the root to make sure that our hospitals are places where people go to get better, not be put in more danger.
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More than 110 health staff and industry stakeholders attended the summit to explore ways to stop violence against frontline health staff, including representatives from WA Police, St John Ambulance, the mental health, drug and alcohol sectors as well as unions and health consumers to make recommendations for action to the State Government. United Voice Ambulance Union Delegates, Pat O’Dal and Rachel Lamb attended the Summit. United Voice WA Secretary, Carolyn Smith, has said that the Government needs to make this their number one priority, “United Voice members are on the front
AMBULANCE ACTIVE
line and have seen for themselves the rise in violent activity in our public hospitals.” Ms Smith said that drug abuse and mental health issues made the issue more complex, “All West Australians know that our community is facing significant problems with drug abuse and mental health. We need to tackle this issue at the root to make sure that our hospitals are places where people go to get better, not be put in more danger.” United Voice Ambulance Union also provided a written submission to the Minister for Health, outlining where particular issues arise between the provision of ambulance services, and the interface with the hospital system. In some hospitals
for example, the ramping areas are accessible to the public, and there have been many instances where Paramedics have had property stolen, and been subjected to violence and aggression. Following from the Summit, the Health Department allocated 5 million dollars immediately to fund, amongst other things, an increase in security staff numbers and review of procedures at hospital sites, to allow “flex up” capacity to cover peak periods to provide better support for Emergency Departments. United Voice Ambulance Union continues to work with the State government to tackle the violence that they experience on a day to day basis.
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EMERGENCY APPS EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ON THEIR SMART PHONE EMERGENCY+ APP The Emergency+ app is available nationwide and free of charge, on both the AppStore and Google Play. The app is intended for the situations in which you need emergency care, but aren’t sure of your exact location. The Emergency+ app accesses your phones GPS, calculating the latitude and longitude so that when you call Triple Zero (000), you can provide exact location details. Emergency+ addresses the response to one of the biggest issues faced by Triple Zero call takers. 66 per cent of people calling Triple Zero (000) are phoning from their mobile smart phones, many unable to provide their exact location; for instance, when they are located on a long road, a beach, or in an unfamiliar neighbourhood. As well as providing location information. The Emergency+ app lists essential phone numbers to call for more specific help, rather than Triple Zero (000). Research shows that majority of the population do not know the State Emergency Services (SES) contact number, or the Police Assistance Line (PAL).
GOODSAM APP The GoodSAM (Smartphone Activated Medic) app, available for free on the AppStore and Google Play store, works to alert appropriately qualified responders when someone nearby is in cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest is often unexpected. For each minute that a patient doesn’t receive CPR or defibrillation, their chances of survival fall by 10%. The GoodSAM app connects first aid qualified people to patients in those first critical minutes of cardiac arrest while the paramedics are on their way. A Triple Zero (000) call made triggers an alert to be sent to the GoodSAM responders, notifying nearby first aid qualified responders, giving them not only the location of the patient, but also the location of the nearest available defibrillator. During this time, the closest available ambulance is sent to the patient, giving the patient a greater chance of survival.
VMEDO APP The VMEDO App is a medical transportation and healthcare app, making medical transportation access for all users. VMEDO is available for free on the AppStore and Google Play store. The app provides information that cater to almost all possibilities, being life threatening cases where ambulance services are needed, or non-emergency used for health check-ups for elderly, or bed to bed services for patients who need long distance medical transport across state lines. VMEDO provides first aid information on common accidents, such as dog and snake bites, fractures, blood loss, etc. The app also provides first aid trainings from experienced first aid instructors for those interested in learning first aid.
INDIAN RED CROSS FIRST AID APP The Indian Res Cross First Aid app is available for free on the AppStore and Google Play store, providing further information than the VMEDO app, including information on first aid incidents that occur in everyday life, such as nose bleeds, fractures and other injuries. The app helps you find your nearest hospital and gives instructions on the do’s and don’ts when in a crisis.
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BODY CAMERAS TO PROTECT OUR PARAMEDICS PARAMEDICS IN NSW ARE GOING TO TRIAL BODY cameras, in a plan to reduce the number of assaults and incidents towards paramedics, aiming to protect the people who are the frontline of stressful, and ultimately unpredictable medical emergencies. This trial comes in light of recent statistics showing that the number of paramedics assaulted while being on the job has risen to three in one week. 50 to 100 body cameras will be worn and trialled over the course of 12 months, in the hopes that the technology will work as a deterrent for those who would otherwise harm paramedics. NSW will evaluate the success of the body cameras in Victoria before the trail can begin. In July of 2017. Ambulance Victoria trailed the body cameras for six months after Victorian paramedics were found to be facing increasing rates of violence while on the job. The Victorian trial involved 27 branches, 550 paramedics and roughly 120 cameras. The cameras used are similar to those used by the police and will only begin if the paramedic felt threatened or as if they were in potential danger. Body cameras have also been trialled on NSW police and Parramatta city council parking officers. Gerard Hayes, Heath Services Union secretary says, “Body cameras are not a perfect solution to violence against paramedics, but if they deter a portion of attacks and minimize risk, then they are certainly worth trialling.”
“Body cameras are not a perfect
solution to violence against paramedics, but if they deter a portion of attacks and minimize risk, then they are certainly worth trialling.
“
After the wave of abuse towards paramedics, Hays says the assaults are “unfathomable”, saying, “Something is seriously wrong when people think it’s okay to lash out at the very people who devote their working lives to the health and safety of others.” Labor’s heath spokesman Ryan Park has urged the NSW government to include Illawarra paramedics in the body-camera trail. The number of assaults and injured paramedics on the South Coast is unacceptable. In April of this year, two separate attacks on paramedics took place two days apart, one involving a paramedic being grabbed by the throat, and another involving a man threatening to kill the paramedic helping him in the ambulance. Park has written the Minister calling for Illawarra to be part of the trial, because of these ongoing stories from paramedics in this region. Illawarra inspector Norm Rees says no one deserves to be bashed, especially while they are at work. Paramedics come into the public’s lives when they are at their most vulnerable, but aggression and violence towards paramedic workers is never okay and will not be tolerated. These body cameras will allow them to feel safe and respected at work. AMBULANCE ACTIVE
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Ph: 02-8627 3314
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PARAMEDIC ASSAULT In August of this year, court ruled to spare jail time for a man who brutally assaulted two paramedics while on drugs. ONE OF THE WOMEN WHO WAS assaulted says that her attacker has been treated as though he is the victim. Monica says that there had been no recognition of the catastrophic affects the assault had on her, leaving her with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), as well as injuries to her back and neck, restricting her from returning to work. In January of this year, Haberfield, who has depressive and autism spectrum disorders, returned to Melbourne after attending the Rainbow Serpent four-day festival, during which he took a range of drugs, including ice, MDMA, ecstasy and ketamine. He walked into the home of a Coburg home of residents he did not know, terrifying them. An Ambulance staffed by two female paramedics came to collect Haberfield, who was in an “acutely psychotic state”, punching Monica in the face and putting her in a headlock. Monica screamed as Haberfield pinned her to the Ambulance. Fellow paramedic Sam Smooth avoided Haberfield’s assaults, pressing the ambulance’s duress button, then sedating Haberfield with midazolam, a medication used to cause drowsiness and decrease anxiety, before they both escaped and called the police. Assaulter James Haberfield, 22, was sentences with 18 months community service, treatment and monitoring, avoiding the mandatory six-month jail term required under new laws, which came into effect last October. Magistrate Simon Zebrwoski determined that sending the “mortified, dismayed and deeply ashamed” young man to jail would have a “disproportionate and catastrophic effect” on his future. Ambulance Victoria and other emergency services unions disputed the ruling, calling on the Director of Public Prosecutions to appeal the decision. “We were hoping that a very strong message would be sent to the community that assaulting emergency services worker or paramedics while they’re on duty is unacceptable and I don’t think that message has been heard.” Stephenson said. Ambulance Victoria figures show that 147 paramedics were assaulted last year.
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That is the equivalent of one every 50 hours. Ambulance Victoria’s executive director of clinical operations Mick Stephenson said that Monica has suffered “irreparable damage”, and that her life would be changed forever. With assaults on paramedics increasing, Ambulance Victoria and WorkSafe released the It’s never OK campaign. Protecting paramedics and heath care staff of the state from violent and aggressive members of the community. As well as this, the campaign states that “our paramedics will leave scenes where they don’t feel safe.” In the last couple of years, Ambulance Victoria paramedics have undergone training to help prevent occupational violence. The training was funded by the state government in a $900,000 grant, equipping paramedics with the behavioural and tactical skills used to reduce the exposure to occupational violence. Ben Redford, acting secretary of United Voice Victoria says society cannot accept violence on emergency services workers. “That is why we have campaigned heavily on this issue,” he says, “we will continue to push for stronger laws to protect paramedics and send a message that assaults on emergency workers are never okay.” The It’s never OK campaign also includes health care workers, with an alarming 95%
of heath care workers having experienced violence on the job. A key part of the campaign follows what is classified as occupational violence, and what behaviour is unacceptable. The following are some of the examples of what healthcare workers experience every day: • Aggressive gestures or expressions (eye rolling, sneering, mocking) • Verbal abuse (yelling, swearing, name calling) • Intimidating healthcare workers (standing in a healthcare workers personal space, or standing over them) • Physical assault (biting, spitting, scratching, pushing, shoving, grabbing, tripping) • Extreme acts of violence (punching, hitting, strangulation, kicking, personal threats, threats with weapons, sexual assault) These shocking, and quite frankly disturbing experiences from healthcare workers show why change is not only needed for healthcare workers to feel safe at work, but in some circumstances, to save their life. Abuse towards paramedics and healthcare workers is a pressing problem that is becoming harder to ignore. No person deserves to feel afraid to go to work, especially if that person is saving lives in our communities. AMBULANCE ACTIVE
Aggression and violence against healthcare workers. It’s never OK. Up to 95% of our healthcare workers have experienced verbal or physical assault. No matter what the situation, it’s never OK.
worksafe.vic.gov.au/itsneverok
FAIR WAGE FOR PARAMEDICS IN NEW ZEALAND IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR AND early this year, St John ambulance staff continued their strike across New Zealand, with many wondering why the emergency response services relies on donation to survive, with New Zealand fully depending on donations and volunteers for payment of commercial services and products. The Government allocated $59 million to double-crew ambulances across the country by 2021, but the Ministry of Health and the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) only cover 72 per cent of the ambulance service’s operating costs. Jared Abbott, First Union’s transport, logistics and manufacturing secretary said that many ambulance workers felt it was time the Government fully funded the national ambulance service.
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New Zealand has some of the lowestpaid ambulance staff in the world. Abbott said, “The starting rate is below $20 dollars per hour. If recognition payments for night and weekend work and factored into this, many ambulance professionals would have to be on or below minimum wage.” It is being recognised around the country that it is strange that New Zealand’s ambulance services have to depend on donations to continue operating. St John’s ambulance service provides high quality emergency care, achieving targeted response times and having the highest level of patient satisfaction ever recorded. Wellington Free Ambulances chief executive at the time Mike Grant said,
“We make up the difference, around $4 million per annum, through fundraising. On one hand this is good in the way it keeps us so closely involved with our community… on the other hand, we could do some much more with increased funding from the Government.” Outrage sparked from Dean Browns letter to the New Zealand Government. Mr Brown was one of the two medics that entered the Al Noor Mosque in Deans Ave directly after the shootings on March 15th. He praised the police, armed offenders’ squad, special tactics group and the frontline that protected them as they treated the patients. He draws light to the fact that both the New Zealand police and Fire Emergency New Zealand are fully funded and regulated by the Government, AMBULANCE ACTIVE
whereas the ambulance service is run by St John, which is a charity. He stresses that the public deserve a first-class ambulance service provided by the Government, and not by a charity. He says, “The staff, both volunteer and paid, have a very real passion to serve their communities and we look to serve others, but we are at crisis point and the public and communities of New Zealand deserve better.” Comparatively, an Ambulance Victoria graduate start on $86 000 dollars (NZ$89,000). Intensive care paramedic Anthony Ivan said that internationally, the starting wage for an EMT with a degree was around $80 000. Not only were the wages in New Zealand low my comparison, but there are no penal rates for working night shifts and weekends. AMBULANCE ACTIVE
Mr Ivan said the dead would be enough to stop the stop work strike. Mr Ivan is at the top end of the pay scale, receiving $80,000 dollars per year, but he says that the latest offer still does not reflect the work he was doing, and that doctors doing similar tasks were paid considerably more. He said, “From my point of view, as an intensive care paramedic, that sounds like a lot of money… but when you compare the skills that I can do with someone in the hospital- I can put people into induced comas, do very advanced airway clinical skills- in the marketplace, it’s actually very cheap.” He continued by saying that it was the staff at the lower end of the pay scale, those receiving $19 dollars per hour, who needed the pay increase the most.
Following this, in February of this year, St John ambulance paramedics painted graffiti on ambulances as part of a pay dispute. It was found that this graffiti was offending charitable donors. First Union Ambulance Sector Coordinator Sarah Stone says it’s not their intention to offend, but they need to get their point across. This escalated in May, with workers having been involved in 34 partial strikes, with the graffiti and staff not wearing uniforms. In the last week of May, they were balloted for the first time about a stop work strike. Following the strike action, there were conversations about paramedics and staff receiving a pay increase of just over 6 per cent and shift allowances. This new deal was being offered by St John after the government gave the organisation a $21 million dollar funding increase. This comes after around 1,000 paramedics who are members of the FIRST union ad been considering strike action over staff shortages and poor pay. Additionally, the deal included shift payments of 5 per cent to be introduced this year. The pay offer comes after almost a year of negotiations between St John and its staff members. Union spokeswoman Sarah Stone said that morale among ambulance staff had been at an all-time low and the offer was desperately needed. She said, “We’re in the middle of a workforce review and that will form a funding bid for the funding to come in the next year… so we know that workforce review will reveal the scale and work of the workers, and the government will react accordingly.” Sarah Stone continues this by saying First Union has four broad pay groupings; Volunteers, who gave their labour for free, emergency medical assistants (EMAs), at just under $42,000 dollars, EMTs earning $54,000 dollars and paramedics who started at around $69,000 dollars. In July of this year, more than 1,000 paramedics and ambulance staff will receive a pay increase and shift allowances after agreeing to a new collective agreement. The St John ambulance officers and members of FIRST union have voted to accept an across-the-board pay increase of 6.5 per cent over two years, with 3.25 per cent paid back until July 2018. The deal also includes the introduction of shift payments for overnight and weekend work; which is equivalent to 5 per cent of an ambulance officer’s annual salary. The deal came together in the last minute, once it became clear that its members were voting overwhelmingly in favour of a full strike.
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UNITED VOICE QLD PLEA IS HEARD
WHAT’S NEXT? IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, UNITED Voice Queensland called for 250 more paramedics to relieve the stress, time pressures and resulting experienced by under-resources Queensland ambulance crews, as well as resolve the ramping crisis the state was facing. Expanding communities in many Queensland towns have had crews struggling to meet an increased demand for emergency medical services. United Voice put their views forward to the media about the ramping issue, of which the crisis was attracting a significant increase in public attention. United Voice called for an additional 250 paramedics to maintain on-road ambulance services to cover ramped crews stuck outside overstretched and over-worked emergency departments. In March, United Voice Queensland Delegate Torrin Nelson fronted a press conference, stressing the need for extra staff, as it was getting more and more difficult for paramedics to do the job properly, primarily due to the increasing demand for emergency services. Nelson said, “There’s nothing more frustrating that being stuck on a hospital ramp while you know there are emergency calls coming through.” With an increase in media attention, the issue of ramping had reached such a high level of public scrutiny, that action had to be taken. In June of this year, the Palaszczuk Government answered the emergency services plea. The record $885.7 million ambulance budget is a 10.7 per cent boost on last year. This includes: • 200 more ambulance personnel • 122 new and replacement vehicles • $55.7 million for facility upgrades United Voice Queensland ambulance coordinator said members have welcomed the changed made by the state government, saying,
AMBULANCE ACTIVE
“While recent
measures announced by the State Labor Government are a step in the right direction, we know more needs to be done.
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“While recent measures announced by the State Labor Government are a step in the right direction, we know more needs to be done.” “We are still seeing too many people in the community call triple zero for minor issues that would be better treated at a GP.” “Everyone has a part to play in addressing hospital crowding- the State Government, Federal Government and the community.”
This record ambulance budget is a massive win for Queensland. It was achieved with the help of dedicated members across the state, who aired calls for more resourcing, but more needs to be done to ease the stress and overcrowding of emergency departments and hospitals. As we can see, together, we can make positive change; the power of a union standing together should never be underestimated.
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PRIVATE OR PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE? PRIVATE OR PUBLIC HEALTH insurance- a choice every Australian has to make at some point in their life. The questions we need to be asking are, what is the difference between Medicare and private health insurance, and what does private health insurance actually cover. The difference between Medicare and private health insurance is that
Medicare pays for patients to be treated in the public system, whereas private health insurance pays for patients to be treated in the private system. Other differences include how much patients pay for treatments, that being doctors’ bills and hospitals’ fees, what doctor treats them, and how long they wait for treatment.
These differences go into more detail below. There are clear benefits to private health cover, but one must consider the out of pocket cost that will be paid weekly, and whether or not you are at a point in your life that you can afford to pay upwards of $4000 per year for cover.
Medicare (Public Health Insurance)
Private Health Insurance
Patients who have an income above the threshold amount pay a 2% Medicare Levy on their income. This is to help the government to pay for the public health system and the benefits that Medicare provide. The Medicare Levy Surcharge may also apply to high-income earners, who earn more than $90 000 (for individuals) and $180 000 (for families).
Private health insurance is paid by the patient to the health insurance provider, in the cost of premiums. The cost of these premiums increase every year as the cost of healthcare rises with an aging population. The cost of private health insurance premiums depends on your age, health status, location and the patient’s hospital and extras package; the cost easily being more than $4000 a year.
Patients receive free/subsidised treatment by doctors, optometrists, specialists and accommodation in a public hospital. Patients only pay the bap between the fees charged by the doctor, hospital or pharmacist.
Patients pay the gap between the hospital fees and the benefit paid by their health cover provider. Each insurers policy will differ, some paying just a portion of the cost or up to 100%. The amount paid by the patient will vary depending on the health cover insurer and the choice of policy.
Public system waiting time are very long, often with delays. Waiting lists for non-emergency surgeries range from one month to one year.
Patients with private health insurance have much shorter wait times, and can choose the date of treatment for some surgeries (e.g. elective C-section)
In the public system, the patient is seen by whatever doctor is on call at the time the patient is admitted to the hospital.
Private health insurance allows the patient to choose a preferred doctor to treat you; this is subject to availability.
Public patients stay in public rooms/wards, usually with four to six people per room.
Private health insurance patients have the option of staying in a private or public hospital with a private room. However, this is also subject to availability, meaning you will not get a private room unless one is free.
Types of treatment
At the moment, there is not Medicare benefit to help you pay for dental, chiropractic, physiotherapy, optical or alternative therapies. You would have to pay the full fee on your own.
Private health insurance policies that include extras cover will cover part or all of the costs of treatments, such as optical, dental, physiotherapy and chiropractic.
Medicare Levy Surcharge
The Medicare Levy Surcharge is an extra tax of 1.5% that high-income earners pay on their income if they do not have private health insurance.
Cost of being in the system
Cost of treatment
Wait time
Choice of doctor
Hospital stay
Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) Loading
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When taking out private health insurance, the cost of the Lifetime Health Cover Loading needs to be considered. The LHC attempts to encourage people to take out private health insurance when they’re young. Australians have until their 31st birthday to take out private health insurance or they will be charged at extra 2% on their premiums every year after they turn 30.
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WA HEALTH DEPARTMENT’S $750,000 CLIMATE CHANGE INQUIRY WA’s Health Department will spend around $750 000 on a year‑long inquiry into how it can help tackle climate change, as well as cope with its impacts and outcome. HEALTH MINISTER RODGER COOK HAS defended this investigation, saying it is a “priority recommendation” of a longrunning review into the sustainability of the health system. Liberal opposition Zak Kirkup argued that the money should be spent fixing the hospital ramping crisis or violence in emergency departments. Cook has said the investigation would look into how WA’s health services can increase energy efficiency and reduce waste, that being single use plastic. According to its terms, the inquiry will review how the health system is responding to the impacts of climate change, and propose a “recommended framework for evaluating future implications.” The inquiry focuses on the likely benefits, on health and wellbeing, economic and social, arising climate change relief strategies, as well as strengthen how communities and health services address key climate change vulnerabilities and prepare to reduce harmful health impacts for Western Australians. It will also “Any reduction in our environmental footprint represents a significant financial benefit to the state,” Cook says, “To give this some context, the annual electricity bill for our public health service is over $47 million, with water costs exceeding $17 million.” The waste of the WA Health Department is quite shocking. See below: From March 2018 to February 2019, WA Health issued: • 81.1 million gloves (e.g. surgeon’s and examination gloves) • 42.2 million single use items (e.g. hospital gowns, nappies, operating caps, surgical masks, surgical packs, syringes) • 9.1 million plastic wear items (e.g. medicine cups, plastic bags, test tubes and caps) AMBULANCE ACTIVE
Cook says, “Climate change has been called the biggest global health threat of the 21st century, and it has serious implications for the population of Western Australia and the WA health system… I have called on the WA public health system, as one of the largest agencies in the state, to do more the reduce its emissions, operate more sustainably and implement adaptation measures.” While exploring ways to improve waste management in the Health Department is important, Kirkup questioned whether the money could be better spent improving the emergency department, saying “nearly every key indication is showing that our state’s health system is getting worse.”
Kirkup says “We’ve got recorded high levels of ambulance ramping, historic blow outs in emergency department wait lists, the highest levels of assaults on nurses and doctors ever reported, and this is where the government decides it needs to urgently spend nearly $750,000?”. “I think most Western Australians would expect this money is better invested to make sure they can get seen by a doctor in the emergency department on time, that they aren’t waiting in the back of an ambulance for hours on end and that our hospital staff aren’t subject to unprecedented rates of violence.”
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WHAT TO DO BEFORE THE AMBULANCE ARRIVES Knowing what to do in the time from when you call an ambulance to when the ambulance arrives is crucial and can improve a patient’s survival rate and recovery.
BEFORE YOU TRY TO HELP THE patient, call Triple Zero (000). When calling Triple Zero (000), tell the responder that you need an ambulance right away, and you will be transferred to the ambulance call-taker. Make sure that you are as accurate as possible to properly inform the paramedics so they can be prepared before arriving to the patient; this includes the injured person’s age, gender, and whether or not they are conscious or breathing. The operator may give you first aid instructions over the phone. After calling Triple Zero (000), ensure that there is someone waiting to flag down the ambulance, as to avoid the paramedics wasting time looking for you, spending that time instead on the patient. Providing the right first aid can make a drastic difference to a patient’s outcome. It is important to know what is happening to a patient before you apply the following specific first aid methods.
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A POSSIBLE STROKE VICTIM If a victim is having a stroke, some signs will be paralysis, unable to speak, blurred or decreased vision, dizziness or loss of balance, difficulty swallowing, drowsiness or confusion or loss of consciousness. Stroke victims can have their symptoms reversed if the receive treatment within a couple of hours. While waiting for an ambulance, and if the patient is awake, some of the following steps may aid in their recovery: • Lie the patient down but make sure to keep their head and shoulders elevated. • Loosen any tight clothing. • Don’t give them anything to eat or drink. • Keep their airway and mouth clear. If the patient is unconscious: • Check the patient’s airway is clear and place them into the recovery position. • If the patient isn’t breathing, seek someone who is trained in applying CPR safely.
EXPERIENCING A POSSIBLE HEART ATTACK Someone experiencing a possible heart attack may develop chest pain over several minutes or very suddenly. The pain may spread from the neck, possibly feeling like a chocking or burning feeling in the throat. Other signs of a heart attack include heaviness in one or both arms, aching or tight jaw, an ache between the shoulder blades, light-headedness, dizziness, fainting, excessive swearing or nausea. While waiting for an ambulance: • Ensure the patient is comfortable. • Loosen any tight clothing. • Get the patient to chew and swallow an aspirin, unless the patient is allergic and has been previously advised by a doctor not to take aspirin. • Begin CPR if the person becomes unconscious. The most important piece of advice is to stay calm. The Triple Zero (000) operator will help to talk you through the process of keeping the patient comfortable and talk you through CPR if necessary. AMBULANCE ACTIVE
THE IMPORTANCE OF FIRST AID
WHILE IT MAY BE AN UNPLEASANT thought, the unavoidable truth is that accidents happen. First aid in the initial assistance given to a victim of injury. First aid is made up of relatively simple techniques that can be performed with little to no equipment, and is usually carried out by a layperson, that being without professional knowledge, until professional medical assistance arrives. People don’t often consider the importance of basic first aid education, some of the reasons why people put it off being: • They think they have enough knowledge should the need arise. • They don’t have the time. • They don’t know where to begin. • They don’t think that accidents will ever happen to them or those close to them. A basic understanding in first aid allows a person to become more than just a bystander in an emergency situation. Everyone can benefit from first aid knowledge, but there is an even greater benefit for those working or living with people who require ongoing special attention, that being children, persons with mental or physical disabilities, persons with chronic illness, the elderly, persons AMBULANCE ACTIVE
with disorders such as epilepsy or people working in dangerous environments such as a construction site. Examples of some of the first aid courses available include basic and advanced first aid, disability first aid, CRP courses, childcare first aid and asthma and anaphylaxis. There are numerous benefits to having a basic knowledge of first aid, the major points are listed below.
HELPS SAVE LIVES A person with knowledge in first aid is more confident, reliable and in control of themselves should an emergency arise. People who are trained are more likely to take immediate action in an emergency situation.
PROVIDES YOU WITH THE TOOLS TO PREVENT A SITUATION FROM BECOMING WORSE In some situations, if a patient doesn’t receive first aid care immediately, their situation may quickly deteriorate. Being able to confidently provide basic first care can stabilize a patient until paramedics arrive. Basic first aid training teaches how to use basic household items as first aid tools if a first aid kit isn’t available, meaning you will be taught how to cope
with many situations. You will also be taught how to collect information about what has happened to the patient and what condition they may be in. The information you collect will be passed on to the paramedics, allowing them to put more time into the survival of the patient.
PROVIDE COMFORT Having someone who is trained in basic first aid can bring immediate to the patient. Being calm and assessing the patient’s situation helps the patient relax while their injuries are being treated until paramedics arrive. Following from the importance of first aid knowledge, is the value of first aid kits, and why they are a must have for every home. From minor to serious injuries, first aid kits can reduce the risk of infection or the severity of the injury. They include a variety of items that will help to treat cuts, sprains, scrapes, and burns. Accidents will always happen. Individuals who are properly trained are a huge help in ensuring the safety for the population. Without proper first aid, a simple injury can become severe and life threatening. First aid not only promote faster recovery, it helps save lives.
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EUREKA STAIR CLIMB Climb the Eureka Tower with Rain Histen, Ambulance Victoria ALS Paramedics and seven-time stair climber, as she again brings together the biggest group of paramedics to climb the 88 floors and 1642 stairs inside Melbourne’s tallest tower, on Sunday the 17th of November. Health and fitness are a crucial part of wellbeing, especially for those apart of the emergency services. These brave men and women work day in and day out to protect our community. Ambulance Victoria paramedics have participated in the annual Eureka stair climb for years, and calls on its peers across Australia and New Zealand to participate. This climb of Eureka is just one of the ways emergency service workers display their teamwork and show of industry solidarity. About the climb, Rain Histen says, “We all do the same job and face the same challenges. Let’s stand side-by-side as a national group of paramedics together in uniform doing the climb.” As well as this, Rain Histen journeys to Tasmania for the Point to Pinnacle event in Hobart on the 17th of November. The event includes a 10-kilometre run and a half marathon. 30 Tasmanian paramedics are attending, as well as a handful of Victorian paramedics, showing the utmost support for interstate colleagues.
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