FUNDING cutbacks are stripping ambulance workers of resources, leaving patients in danger, the Ambulance Employees Association has warned.
Frontline ambulance workers have backed the warning, saying the cuts will leave them under-prepared to deal with high-stress scenarios.
The South Australian Ambulance Service has announced the first round of "disestablishments" to ambulance officers.
An officer, who did not want to be named, said 11 support positions had already been slashed and more were expected in the coming months.
"We are concerned, because a lot of the drugs we administer can only be given with a doctor's approval, and there are now no doctors specifically assigned to us," he said.
"For example, if we need to administer penicillin to a child with meningococcal, we need permission.
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"I am not sure what we are supposed to do now. I suppose they intend us to call a doctor and hope they are reachable."
Ambulance Employees Association industrial officer Wayne Carty said he was concerned the staffing cutbacks would have an impact on their service. "While the staffing cuts were not to frontline officers, they still will have a measurable impact on overall patient care," Mr Carty said.
"Whatever functions are cut, it will inevitably lead to a reduction in services. If you remove people who assist the officers . . . quality care could suffer."
He said the cuts in the rostering department could lead to inconsistent rosters, causing tired and stressed ambulance workers.
SAAS chief executive Ray Creen said the department was committed to maintaining a high standard of patient care and restructuring management and administrative services would not affect this.
"There is no reduction in frontline positions and the recently revised clinical governance structure provides a much larger network of doctors and other medical professionals who can offer medical advice and oversight," he said.
In November, the Government revealed 947 health-sector jobs would be cut over four years as part of its plan to save $2 billion from the public sector.
