00:02It was a long winter for the capital's ambulance crews.
00:06I think we have to be alert to the fact of moral injury and burnout when we look at a
00:10workforce that has been under pressure for a sustained period of time.
00:14Staff shortages compounded by an increasing workload.
00:18The service's own benchmark tells a different story.
00:21During winter, 50% of ambulances arrive to life-threatening call-outs within 12 minutes,
00:27but the target is eight minutes.
00:29Most arrived within 21 minutes, against a target of 15 minutes.
00:34Ambulance stations across the network were closed for 560 hours in the three months to September,
00:40a significant rise from 178 hours in the previous quarter.
00:45The Dixon station has been closed 97 times since the start of the year.
00:50Fishwick, 35 times.
00:52Aranda, West Belconan and Greenway were all closed for the first time.
00:56Recruitment is ongoing, but isn't keeping up with demand.
01:00The service is currently short of 33 staff, with dozens more needed into the future.
01:06About an extra 50 officers would be useful.
01:08It would be at least that.
01:10Keeping staff is also a challenge.
01:13Ambos are stressed, overworked and leaving the job.
01:16Occupational violence, when we talk about why people are leaving the profession
01:20across all jurisdictions, is a significant drive.
01:23The new Malongaloe ambulance station, which is due to be operational by the end of the year,
01:28will add to staffing pressure, leaving an emergency service operating in crisis mode.
01:34So, I have to use all the Welcome to judgment.
