Far North ambos forgotten by Labor

LACK of resources and poor management by the Bligh government was seeing ambulance officers from the outer areas of Cairns forced to the inner city causing blow-outs in response times and putting lives at risk, the LNP said today.

LNP Emergency Services Shadow Minister John-Paul Langbroek said call-outs to inner city Cairns were causing serious blow-outs in response time in surrounding areas.

“Blow-outs in response times of up to 45 minutes could be the difference between life and death for a patient in Gordonvale needing life-saving first aid,” Mr Langbroek said.

“Cairns and its regions and the ambulance service deserve a lot better.

“Hard working ambulance officers in Edmonton, Smithfield, Kuranda and Gordonvale were working double time to cover both their own area and that of the CBD.

“This is a clear example of regional areas being forgotten by the Bligh government.”

Mr Langbroek said latest figures showed at June 30, 2010, there were 195.75 paramedics in Far North Queensland, just 4.43 more than the previous year.

“Despite the Bligh government’s spin about employing 630 extra paramedics, the Far North looks like it’s missed out badly which would explain why response times are blowing-out and regional staff are being dragged in to plug holes in Cairns.”

Mr Langbroek said the high demand in the region could not be ignored and the blow-out in response times was putting lives at risk and strain on frontline ambulance officers.

“Only a CanDo LNP government will govern for all Queensland, not for ourselves”