The SA Ambulance Service has launched a recruitment campaign to attract 350 paramedics and ambulance officers to improve response times and help fix the ramping crisis.
Announced by Premier, Peter Malinauskas, the recruitment campaign is supported by the allocation of funding in the State Budget and follows a report from the Australian Medical Association (AMA) last month which found SA paramedics spent too much time caring for patients while waiting to transfer them into the care of hospital Emergency Department staff, known as ambulance ramping.
Mr Malinauskas said 278 paramedics and 72 ambulance officers would be employed over four years, with the first new intern cohort of 32 paramedic graduates already on the job from 6 June.
“This funding will bolster the SA Ambulance Service frontline workforce to give South Australians the care they need when they need it,” he said.
Mr Malinauskas said 99 ambos (paramedics, ambulance officers and 000 call takers) would start by mid-next year, with the first additional 16-paramedic crew expected to start in two months based at Parkside before ultimately moving to the new Norwood station.
He said 77 new paramedics and 22 more ambulance officers and 000 Call Takers would be employed before the end of July 2023.
The Premier said ramping across metro hospital had escalated to record levels, with a 485 per cent increase over the past four years.
“We are recruiting 350 more ambos, over and above attrition, and we’re already pushing ahead with recruitment call-outs for experienced paramedics, interns and Triple Zero call takers,” he said.
“We are also renewing their ageing stations to provide ambos with facilities that support them to do their job.”
Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Chris Picton said a commitment to 554 more hospital and community beds would provide the capacity for patients to get off the ramp and into care.
