Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison has confirmed four new paramedics will be permanently based at the Rutherford Ambulance Station from July 13, 2019.
Ms Aitchison has been lobbying for more ambulances in Maitland, and received the news during a recent meeting she initiated with the Hon Brad Hazzard MP, Minister for Health and representatives from NSW Ambulance.
“I’m pleased Ambulance NSW planners accept that Maitland has a serious issue with paramedic and road ambulance numbers, and have committed to base four new paramedics at Rutherford,” Ms Aitchison said.
“Permanent placement of these four paramedics in our community is a step in the right direction, and I understand that under SWEP [Statewide Workforce Enhancement Program], which will roll out during the next four years, a further 56 paramedics will be allocated to the broader Hunter area.
“I will continue to work with the Minister and NSW Ambulance to ensure our community is allocated enough paramedics, and ambulance resources, to keep our growing population safe.”
The four new paramedics destined for permanent placement in Rutherford are part of a pool of 20 centralised staff that have, to date, been based in Hamilton.
“Although these paramedics have historically been funded for Maitland, they’ve been based in Hamilton and dispatched as required,” Ms Aitchison said.
“These paramedics will now log on and off in Rutherford.”
Ms Aitchison was optimistic that this signified a turning point in Maitland’s ambulance crisis.
“During the meeting, both the Minister and NSW Ambulance recognised that Maitland is a growth area that needs enhancement, and have acknowledged that ambulance and paramedic services and numbers in our community are under review,” Ms Aitchison said.
“This is a win for all of those people in our community who have made representations to me on the lack of ambulance resources, and I want to reassure them, we’re not done yet. I will continue to work for better ambulance resources for our community as a top priority.”
