MICA service critical

By Melissa Grant
CARDINIA and Casey’s 12 Intensive care paramedics have tendered their resignations in a drastic protest to what they say is a sub-standard pay offer from the State Government.
Officers from MICA 16, a unit which covers the two municipalities and parts of Baw Baw and Bass Coast, have vowed to revert to advance life support paramedics on 7 September unless Spring Street attempts to address their demands for a $200 to $300 per week pay rise. The dramatic move will see them stop using their specialist skills to treat heart attack, stroke, car crash and other accident victims.
Two MICA 16 officers, who spoke anonymously to the Gazette, said the resignations would put lives of Cardinia and Casey residents at risk.
The officers “Sam” and “Pat”, who didn’t want to reveal their real names for fear of a fine and disciplinary action for speaking out, said the public would suffer if the MICA paramedics handed in their qualifications.
Pat said while advance life support paramedics could administer drugs for pain relief, they didn’t have the decision making skills, the drugs or the skill set required in life and death situations.
Sam said for trauma patients, every minute was critical. “Acute patients have to be treated quickly,” Sam said. “With heart attacks, for every hour delay they’re losing heart muscle.”
There are about 300 MICA paramedics in Victoria – 200 of whom have submitted their resignations.
In the most recent round of negotiations, the State Government offered a 2.5 per cent pay rise across the board for advance life support and MICA paramedics. “Even if we get $300 a week (rise), we would be probably $10,000 (a year) behind our counterparts in South Australia,” Pat said.
Ambulance Employees Australia, the paramedics’ union, agreed in principal to a package put by the Government last Tuesday week. The package, which includes a pay rise of about 2.5 per cent, allowance increases and assurance of 10-hour minimum breaks, still had to be voted on by all paramedics – including the 2500 advance life support paramedics.
Ambulance Victoria spokesman James Howe said they expected all paramedics to accept the offer.
But Sam said there simply wasn’t enough incentive for MICA paramedics to use their specialist skills unless wages increased. “At the moment the difference between a senior paramedic and a senior MICA paramedic is $5000 a year for a lot more responsibility and a lot more heartache,” Sam said. “If the shit hits the fan at a job it’s us it falls back on.”
A government spokesman said: “We look forward to finalising an agreement in coming weeks. Victorians can be confident that the state ambulance service will continue to provide the best pre-hospital care anywhere in the country.”