SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) has unveiled a plan to increase the number of ambulances and qualified paramedics available to the community ahead of an anticipated spike in COVID-19 cases following the reopening of the State border.
Announced by the Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Stephen Wade, the Plan aims to expand the paramedic workforce by preparing a ‘super group’ of up to 100 final-year students and employing 96 interns (double the 48 originally planned for 2022).
Mr Wade said the Plan included a raft of measures such as additional Triple Zero (000) call takers, fast-tracked recruitment of qualified paramedics, partnerships with other emergency services to increase rural capacity and increased single emergency response cars.
He said final year paramedic science students would complete ambulance driver training to boost SAAS resources as borders opened.
The Minister said future paramedics would be trained immediately so they could be on the road if required, driving non-urgent patients with support from existing patient transport officers.
“The Plan is bold, but it is a manageable, responsible and safe plan,” he said.
“We are ensuring South Australia is COVID-ready and we are prepared for whatever comes.”
Interim Chief Executive Officer for SAAS, Rob Elliott said recruiting a range of roles, from students to experienced qualified paramedics, was a sensible and safe way of increasing the availability of resources across the board.
“Final year university students will be able to support experienced ambulance officers with low acuity patients and our paramedic interns and experienced paramedic recruits are being fast tracked into the community for emergency responses,” Mr Elliott said.
