By Simon Royal
Sleep-deprived paramedics in regional South Australia are demanding roster changes because they fear they could be a danger to patients.
An on-call system is used in country hours to ensure 24-hour ambulance coverage, and saves money by rostering officers overnight after they have finished their full-day shift.
A roster over four consecutive days effectively leaves ambulance officers available for duty for 96 hours.
“The reality is you can’t lead a normal life,” said paramedic Chris Robson.
He has worked in the Barossa Valley, north-east of Adelaide, for 32 years.
“You are always expecting the call to come in so you can’t sit back and have a glass of red, you can’t go for a walk, can’t have a round of golf,” he said.
The Ambulance Employees Association surveyed its members over recent months about their fatigue levels, using a standardised scoring system.
A score of nine is in the red zone and means a supervisor must be notified.
Ambulance union official Phil Palmer said not a single on-call crew recorded a score below nine, meaning all were in need of restorative sleep.
The survey showed an average fatigue score of 11, while the on-call paramedics at Naracoorte in the state’s south-east scored 38.
“Our understanding is that a score of nine is somewhere near the equivalent of having a 0.05 blood alcohol reading,” Mr Palmer told 7.30 SA.
“If you multiply that by four you’ve got someone who is severely affected and is a risk to themselves, to road users and to patients – and it is not acceptable.”
Sleep quality ‘important public health issue’
The survey results were examined by the president of the Australasian Sleep Association, Dr Nick Antic.
He said the quality of sleep for the estimated 16 per cent of Australians who did shift work was an “important public health issue”.
“Someone who has been awake for 18 or 20 hours might perform at a neuro-cognitive level of 0.05 and society has said that [blood-alcohol reading] is an unacceptable level to be driving,” he said.
“What society has not yet done is said what’s an unacceptable level of sleeplessness and fatigue to be driving.”
The Ambulance Employees Association demanded an end to on-call rostering in country areas.
The Ambulance Service said it had asked to see the union’s survey findings.
“We are serious about our staff safety we are aware of the issues,” acting chief officer Steve Cameron said.
He agreed the ultimate solution would be to get rid of on-call rostering.
“We are reviewing what the issue is and then looking at what possible solutions are likely to be,” he said.
More on the story will be aired on 7.30 SA on Friday night, on the ABC.