Ambulance officers say country people in South Australia may need to wait for an ambulance from a neighbouring town due to a shortage in staff and increased workloads.
SA Ambulance Service general manager of northern operations Graham Denton said regional communities need more ambulance volunteers to avoid longer waiting times in an emergency.
At the moment there are around 1,300 volunteers across the state, a drop of 2.5 per cent over 12 months.
The State Government said at the same time new recruits have fallen by 23 per cent while volunteer resignations increased by 11 per cent.
Mr Denton said that has had a major impact on the service provided in regional areas.
“A shortage of staff and increased workloads mean we cannot guarantee that if you call triple-0 from a town with an ambulance station, that an ambulance will respond from that town,” Mr Denton said.
“What we can guarantee is that if you need an ambulance you will get one, but it might have to come from a neighbouring town.”
Health Minister Jack Snelling said the drop has prompted the State Government and the SA Ambulance Service to call for new recruits.
“Towns right across the state are urgently seeking more ambulance volunteers to provide high quality emergency care for their local communities,” he said.
“We’re aware that people have competing priorities in their lives and may have less time to commit to volunteering in the past.”
Mr Denton said in coming months ambulance stations around South Australia will be advertising for more volunteers.
“I’d encourage anyone living in country South Australia with even the slightest inclination about volunteering to contact us,” he said.
“Your community is counting on it.”