Ambulance Workers Face Uncertain Future

Media Release.

Ambulance workers face a more uncertain future now they are the responsibility of the Minister for Health, Cuts and Closures, says Shadow Health Minister Jo-Ann Miller.

“From today the Queensland Ambulance Service is part of Queensland Health and under the control of Health Minister Lawrence Springborg,” Mrs Miller said.

“Does this make funding for the ambulance service more secure? No."

“Does this make the service more efficient? No."

“Does it make it more responsive to the needs of Queenslanders or better able to respond to natural disasters or emergencies? No."

“But it does make it more likely that skilled paramedics will be dragged into hospitals to plug the gaps that have been created by Mr Springborg’s savage cuts to health budgets."

“And it hastens the privatisation of patient transfer services."

“Mr Springborg takes over a service where morale is already low as a consequence of budget pressures and the threat posed by the Newman Government’s passion for privatisation of essential services."

“He should have the guts to admit now precisely how many Queensland Ambulance Service jobs will be cut when he implements the plan to outsource patient transfers to private companies.”