By VANESSA VALENZUELA
SUNSHINE paramedics have threatened to abandon their unstable branch on Ballarat Rd amid safety concerns.
About 80 paramedics from across Melbourne attended a protest at the 35-year-old building last Tuesday, voicing their concerns about the safety of the station.
Nineteen paramedics and one clinic transport officer had agreed not to return to the building in Sunshine until their concerns were addressed.
Ambulance Employees Australia Victoria Steve McGhie said the union had given the ambulance service and government months to fix the growing problems and was disappointed they had not been addressed.
“Unfortunately, the conditions at this branch are very substandard and they need total repair. The building needs to be demolished and rebuilt,” he said at the protest last week.
“That funding hasn’t been forthcoming from the government. Ambulance Victoria is flustering with how to fix this problem.”
Greens MP Colleen Hartland said she supported the Ambulance Employees Association decision to withdraw from the station for safety reasons.
“The Baillieu Government’s failure to address safety issues at the Sunshine Branch is now putting lives at risk, with the possibility of increased response times,” Ms Hartland said.
“Like most people in our community in the West, I support our paramedics and Mr Baillieu should be listening and responding to their concerns without delay.”
Ambulance Victoria regional manager Metropolitan West Simon Thomson said a meeting between WorkSafe, health and safety officials, the union and ambulance saw everyone agree to implement further safety and security measures at the Sunshine branch.
“These measures are in addition to other works previously undertaken to address health and safety concerns raised by the HSR,” Mr Thomson said.
“We have put measures in place to assist with the team’s fatigue concerns whilst we continue to work with government on the options available.”
He said improved lighting, higher fences and private vehicle security had also been implemented at the site.
An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said the ban implemented last week had been lifted on Wednesday and paramedics would continue to work out of the Sunshine branch.
