TAMWORTH MP Kevin Anderson says he will meet with the city’s paramedics “as soon as possible” over urgent maintenance issues and concerns.
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In response to a push for station upgrades, more vehicles and better radio service in the bush by the Australian Paramedics Association, Mr Anderson said he intended to meet with local crew members to get a better understanding of their issues.
The union is also calling for a new Ambulance station in Tamworth City, with the current facility 90 years old.
“I meet regularly with paramedics, both in Gunnedah and Tamworth and we have spoken about the need for upgrades in Tamworth,” Mr Anderson said.
“I’m looking forward to a formal meeting with them, to outline exactly what they require and I’m happy to work with them because we need to provide the very best for them that we can.
“What I have to do is meet with them formally, have a look at what is required and what is the need. We need to meet with them, work with them and fix it if there is a problem.”
NSW Ambulance has said regional stations are a priority.
Near $36 million will be invested over two years to upgrade radio telecommunications infrastructure and four more relief paramedics are on the way to the New England, as part of a recent state budget announcement.
A statement given to The Leader recently also said in December 2016 “NSW Ambulance completed a $9.25 million complete refresh of all Mobile Data Terminals and associated back end infrastructure in regional NSW”.
A Tamworth APA spokesman said paramedics wanted to make their local MPs aware of their plight.
“What we really want to do is expose him (Mr Anderson) and potentially Adam Marshall to the real nature of what goes on here, or what doesn’t go on,” he said.
“It has been mentioned that the government are spending a lot of money on regional infrastructure, but none of it is being spent in New England.
“The other thing, we want to be saying is; why is it like this?
"Presently in this financial year, there is money there that hasn't been spent properly.
“All the maintenance that was approved to be done in the financial year hasn’t been done.
“We just want to know why .. we have to get SafeWork to intervene, just to get a pest inspection?
“Why does SafeWork have to push to get these things fixed? Why is New England so neglected?”
