The Guardian 24 October, 2007
Defective ambulances
Defective ambulances in Victoria often passed their agreed life limit, are causing critical delays to paramedics attending emergency cases. The AEA (Ambulance Employees Australia) has released a fact sheet showing five cases of defective vehicles over the last two weeks, including:
On Monday October 1, an ambulance became stuck in second gear while responding to a baby in Altona, initially reported as having a cardiac arrest.
On Thursday October 11, an ambulance was called out to a baby at a childcare centre in Newport suffering anaphylactic shock. It was delayed by 35 minutes because the vehicle wouldn’t start.
On Saturday October 13, an ambulance was taking a patient with a cardiac condition to the Epworth Hospital. The driver heard loud thumping under the vehicle, but kept going because it wasn’t safe to stop. As the ambulance drove on to a nearby round-a-bout, the steering and breaks failed — still with a patient and relative on board.
"These cases demonstrate why paramedics are so concerned about how long their vehicles are kept on the road — and why all Victorians should be too", said AEA State Secretary Steve McGhie.
Mr McGhie said the Australian Industrial Relations Commission had recommended that vehicles be taken off the road at 150,000 kilometres or three years, which ever came sooner.
About 45 Mercedes ambulances have exceeded their agreed life span and paramedics are being threatened with fines of $6,000 by Metropolitan Ambulance Service (MAS) unless they use them.
The AEA understands that MAS is doing this because it has failed to order enough new vehicles to meet demand. There is now a shortage of at least 18 vehicles, possibly more. In NSW ambulance vehicles are replaced at 111,000 kilometres. In SA they are replaced at 100,000 kilometres.
Victorian police cars are replaced after 60,000 kilometres. Meanwhile, MAS managers’ vehicles are replaced after two years or 40,000 kilometres, whichever comes sooner.
Mr McGhie said paramedics are trying to find a solution but MAS refuses to negotiate in good faith. "MAS are not focused on resolving this issue. They are just trying to take action against paramedics and their union.
"This is another crisis in the Metropolitan Ambulance Service that is not being resolved appropriately."