Why paramedics can now refuse to help patients at risk of dying
With three ambulance officers attacked every week in NSW alone, paramedics under threat can now refuse to help patients, even if they're at risk of dying.
The protection allows ambulance officers to refuse to attend locations if they believe there is a safety risk.
They will have the backing of the state government, after the Health Minister on Friday made a new promise to protect our paramedics.
A special round table was held in Sydney on Friday, following 20 assaults on first responders already this year.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard promised to support ambulance crews if they decide it is unsafe to treat a patient.
"You must not put our paramedics at risk. If you do, you're putting yourself, and your family or your friends at risk," he said.
The move was backed by NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan, who said paramedics will need to take a risk assessment and make a judgement call.
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"If that means the paramedic needs to stand off until the situation is clarified, or the police are in attendance, then we will back our paramedics to do that," he said.
There is still the unresolved issue of officers being called to jobs without a partner, leading to union calls for an extra 1000 paramedics for NSW.
Campbelltown paramedic Jason Kirkaldy supports the move.
"If you ask any paramedic, I think the majority of us, if not all of us, have been attacked at least once in our career.
"When we go to work wondering whether we're going to come home in one piece in the afternoon, that's a problem," he added.
