Hi Pip and SBA,
Don't worry about falling into a troll trap as I do not apply such things. Just constructive criticism that may some professionals who spend time trolling through universities at taxpayers expense proving that they are good at study.
RDNS might well be a NFP group contracted by government. So what is the problem for them getting some payment for each callout. They are DEGREE and Nationally registered whereas Paramedics are not.
Sorry about Gambier not having Vollies, maybe you should look into that and get it sorted.
SAAS is part of the emergency sector as is police and the fire department. So why don't we train up the police to do exactly what ECP's do considering they are all part of SA Health in one form or another.
ECP's attending Acute cases of
low acuity (changing a bandaid perhaps) appears to be overkill for their skills training don't you think.
Paragraph 3 really tells the story somewhat of ECP's doing what they should not be doing as this is Registered Nurses and Doctors area and the SA Government should really spend OUR taxpayers monies on providing funds to the professionals in this area, not paramedic's (and there are some fabulous ones) who by their own desire became paramedics to specialise in the emergency field.
I do not think for one minute that this is beyond 1st aid as previously mentioned in other posts. Vollies can be trained (except in Gambier) and provided with appropiate vehicles and equipment to attend and if an ambulance is required then they will call it in.
Or, the SA Health could use taxpayers funds to pay for registered nurses who would call it in if an ambulance is required also.
It is wrong to suggest that RDNS wouldn't get out of bed to attend, they are after all professionals and their duty of care extends far and wide.
Paramedics are health professionals (in a positively different field).
I'd like to see these same professionals working in an emergency department.
It appears that the lights and siren saga once again raises an issue. No one ever mentioned the need for these (especially for low acuity cases).
Regards
Kelly
I reply mindful I'm falling into Kelly's forum troll trap.
Matt and Pip are on the money !
1. We have no volunteers based in My Gambier. Our rural volunteers do a fantastic jobs offering care to low workload areas. However this type if care (ECP) requires more than 6 months training and limited experience.
2. RDNS is a not for profit business (contracted by government) using nurses trained to provide care to CHRONIC health problems in patients homes.
3. SAAS is the prehospital arm of SA Health. ECPs deal with ACUTE issues of a low acuity nature. RDNS won't attend at 3am to suture some one, unblock a IDC catheter at a nursing home, attend preform on site blood test pathology (with instant results from the analyses in their vehicle, provide antibiotics, and help palliative care patients with extra pain relief to allow them to be comfirtable and to die at home (as many wish)
All this is beyond what kelly describes as "first aid" and does requires someone
well trained and equipped.
Paramedics are health care professionals who provide care in the community, this is our office and domain for ACUTE health issues and not just lights and siren emergencies.