State Member for Wallsend, Ms Sonia Hornery MP, will this week table a Notice of Motion calling on the Health Minister to hold an urgent summit to discuss staffing and safety for Paramedics.
Paramedics respond to members of the community in their time of greatest need and in so doing often put themselves in harms way.
The issue of understaffing and assaults has been raised previously in the Parliament by Ms Hornery but was ignored by the Government.
Quotes attributable to Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery
“I am supporting calls by the Health Services Union for an urgent summit on Paramedic staffing and safety.”
“Paramedics have been talking to me about this issue after the number of assaults increased last year.”
“Last year I raised the issue of staffing levels and have been calling on the Government to address the issue of Paramedic safety since 2013.”
“There are assaults occurring almost every week, and right across the Hunter we have seen a number of very serious assaults this year on Paramedics.”
“There needs to be a summit to discuss the best way forward before a more serious incident occurs.”
“I will be tabling a Notice of Motion in Parliament this week and have written to the Health Minister asking him to act urgently.”