PEOPLE in regional South Australia are being forced to wait longer for emergency medical help because of a shortage of volunteer ambulance officers.
GOVERNMENT figures show 23 per cent fewer volunteer ambulance officers signed up in the past year.
The total number of operational volunteers fell by 2.5 per cent over the same period to about 1300. SA Ambulance Service spokesman Graham Denton said regional communities depended on volunteers to provide emergency care. “A shortage of staff and increased workloads mean we cannot guarantee that if you call triple zero from a town with an ambulance station, that an ambulance will respond from that town,” he said. “If you need an ambulance you will get one, but it might have to come from a neighbouring town.” Health Minister Jack Snelling said volunteers were provided with equipment, training and reimbursement of meals and travel. Volunteer ambulance officers are expected to do an average of three to four shifts per month.