Ambulance response times have not always met targets, but the alarming new pinch point in our health-care system is that there are no ambulances at all available to respond to calls.
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With more than half a million notifications of suspected child maltreatment each year in Australia, we need to explore the better use of our health-care workforces to prevent maltreatment.
Ambulance services are facing unfair criticism for a situation which is not of their making. The workforce is in crisis, with system-wide pressures seriously hampering their ability to do their jobs.
The future of our health system depends on recruiting and retaining passionate and highly skilled health-care workers. It’s essential to build work environments where they feel supported and safe.
Hospitals are struggling, with ambulances ramping outside emergency departments and patients facing long waits for care. But doing more of the same won’t fix the problem.
New research shows overworked, sleep-deprived health-care professionals are less empathetic to their patient’s needs compared to when they are well-rested.
Long lines of ambulances have hit the headlines in recent weeks. But ‘ramping’ isn’t a new problem for patients or paramedics. COVID means we must fix it now.
It’s not just because of higher exposure to traumatic events. It’s also toxic workplace culture and harmful management practices.
Proposals in NSW to force someone who spits at or bites a frontline worker to be tested for HIV and other blood-borne viruses are a real problem - for workers and the public.
Our study found many ambulance staff felt ill-equipped to respond to these calls.
Immediate CPR and defibrillation can be key to surviving a cardiac arrest. A smartphone app is mobilising community responders who can help before emergency services arrive.
Security guards won’t protect paramedics and community nurses from violent patients. And in hospital, some security guards can unwittingly escalate violence, unless they’re specially trained.
With attacks on paramedics on the rise, the public needs to be educated about the consequences of such senseless crimes.
Paramedics face traumatic situations every day. They need policies to ensure support is provided in the immediate aftermath of trauma, and early access to mental health care.
Given the persistent risk of terrorist attacks and large-scale accidents, it’s more critical than ever for EMTs, police, firefighters and others to learn from the past.
Top contributors
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Simon Sawyer is a Friend of The Conversation.Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Australian Catholic University
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Academic Lead in Paramedic Education and Program Director Paramedicine Programs, Griffith University
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Professor, Flinders University, Flinders University
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Associate Professor, Deputy Director Phoenix Australia Centre for Post-traumatic Mental Health, The University of Melbourne
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Professor of Leadership and Management, Edge Hill University
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Director of Research/Associate Professor - Paramedicine, Monash University
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Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Director of the Acute Care Research Unit, Affiliated Adjunct and Natural Scientist, RAND Corporation, University of Michigan
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Daryl Higgins is a Friend of The Conversation.
Professor & Director, Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University
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Lecturer in Nursing, University of Technology Sydney
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Professor of Policy Analysis, Pardee RAND Graduate School
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Adjunct Associate Professor, Monash University
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Professor of General Practice Research, Director of Clinical Academic Training, Keele University
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Paramedic Programme Manager , Liverpool John Moores University
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Sexual health physician, epidemiologist, researcher. (President-elect and vice-president Australasian Society of HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine), UNSW Sydney
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Research Officer, Australian Catholic University
