The Minister for Health Michael Ferguson is in denial over the immense pressure ambulance paramedics have been working under.
It has been revealed that last financial year paramedics missed 11,414 meal breaks while working 10 hour day shifts and 14 hours straight at night.
“Instead of being able to take these meal breaks they were compensated at a cost of $228,280,” Ms White said.
“Paramedics are already exhausted from working large amounts of overtime and it is unsafe for them to miss out on a 20 minute break during their shift.
“Mr Ferguson should ensure there is appropriate resourcing of rosters so paramedics can take the meal breaks they are entitled to rather than rushing from job to job.
“There are also daily requests for staff to work on their days off and during their leave to fill shifts.
“Ambulance paramedics are becoming reluctant to work overtime because they are not getting meal breaks and not finishing their shifts on time.
“At times staff have no choice but to work on their own because of unfilled vacancies in the roster which means that when they attend a call out another crew has to be called out for backup.
“In these cases two ambulances are sent to the same job.”
Rebecca White MP Shadow Health Minister
