The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) is fast-tracking 60 additional officers into the community to help with the Coronavirus pandemic response.
Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk said the extra officers would help cater for an increase in demand for health care in Queensland if needed.
“We know we will continue to see more cases over the coming weeks, which is why we’re fast-tracking paramedic training, to get extra sets of hands into Queensland communities,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“Our ambulance officers are playing a big role in identifying potential COVID-19 cases and getting patients to facilities where they can be tested, isolated and treated as required.”
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Steven Miles said Queenslanders could be reassured the Government was continuing to boost front-line resources to assist patients who had contracted the virus.
“Our healthcare workers are facing the virus head on during our fight against this pandemic,” Mr Miles said.
He said an extra 45 paramedics had been deployed across the State with another 30 graduates already under training and a further 30 starting this week.
“The graduates will be deployed within three weeks of their induction to assist with the pandemic preparations and response across the State,” Mr Miles said.
“The majority will be placed in the South-East corner of the State depending on where the demand is.”
QAS Triple Zero Operations Centres are also to get a boost, with an additional 15 Emergency Medical Dispatchers to begin training on 27 April.
Commissioner for QAS, Russell Bowles said planning for a possible surge in workload had been continuing since January.
