Victoria's paramedics understaffed

They are crucial to saving lives, but mobile paramedics are not always out on the road when we need them most.

It has been revealed that lives are being put at risk every day because not enough mobile intensive care ambulance (MICA) specialists are being rostered on.

Victoria’s elite medicos are increasingly calling in sick but their shifts are not being filled.

Their vehicles, along with the lifesaving equipment inside, remain locked up.

For some people, this lack of mobile staff and access to equipment could mean the simple difference between life and death.

Opposition Health Spokesman Wade Noonan says the problem is critical.

“We can't have a situation where the minimum number of people rostered on are not on the road, we already have a problem with hospital ramping,” Mr Noonan says.

Freedom of Information documents obtained by the State Opposition have revealed that in the six months to June, 184 MICA shifts were ‘dropped’ due to a lack of staff.

Those numbers equate to one shift dumped each day, leaving the public vulnerable.

PTC Health Minsiter David Davis blames the previous government for the current issues with the ambulance service and says there are hundreds more paramedics now than when Labor was in office.

Tony Walker from Ambulance Victoria concedes there is a shortfall in staff but says they are working on a solution.

“Every shift that is unfilled is an issue for us and we make every attempt to fill them. These issues are being raised and we acknowledge that,” Mr Walkers says.