Page 2741 - Week 07 - Thursday, 2 August 2018
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(1) The ACT Ambulance Service (ACTAS) currently aims to have 10 emergency ambulance crews during each shift and provides for two additional demand crews each 24 hour period. These crews assist in the management of peak periods of community demand. Crewing levels are currently being reviewed by ACTAS.
For the period 11 April 2018 to 10 May 2018, there were 16 shifts were fewer than 10 emergency ambulances were available at some point during a shift. There are two shifts per day (day shift/night shift), which totals 60 shifts for the 30 day period.
As stated previously, there are occasions when ACTAS accepts operating with fewer than 10 emergency ambulance crews. For example, if it is known that there are not enough staff rostered to crew 10 emergency ambulances in the middle of a day, every effort has been made to back fill the rostered shifts.
This same effort to back fill rostered shifts might not be applied for night shifts during the middle of a working week. In these instances ACTAS accepts operating with fewer than 10 emergency ambulance crews in the knowledge that the high standard of care for the community is maintained.
(2) For the period 11 April 2018 to 10 May 2018, there were 30 shifts that required overtime to maintain crewing levels. There were also four demand shifts that required overtime to maintain crewing levels. There was a total of 637.5 hours of overtime during this period.
As announced by the ACT Government in December 2017, an additional 23 paramedics would be recruited to further assist ACTAS in maintaining crewing levels and reducing hours of overtime.
Eight new emergency staff completed their induction training, and commenced on the ACTAS roster from 7 May 2018. A further 15 new emergency staff will be recruited in the 2018-19 financial year.
Bushfires—controlled burns
(Question No 1376)
Mr Coe asked the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, upon notice, on 11 May 2018 (redirected to the Minister for Environment and Heritage):
(1) What steps does the ACT Government take to ensure that residents who suffer from asthma, or other breathing-related conditions, are warned of hazard reduction burns taking place in their area.
(2) What is the standard timeframe for warning residents prior to burn(s) commencing.
(3) What support, if any, is available to residents suffering a health reaction to smoke inhalation during a hazard reduction burn.
Mr Gentleman: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) All prescribed burns planned to be undertaken by the ACT Parks and Conservation Service (PCS) in any one financial year are identified in the annual Bush Fire Operational Plan (BOP). The annual BOP is drawn from the Regional Fire
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