NSW: Ambulance survey a cheap shot, Meagher says

AAP General News (Australia)
04-11-2008
NSW: Ambulance survey a cheap shot, Meagher says

SYDNEY, April 11 AAP - The release of a survey showing discontent among NSW Ambulance
officers is an attempt to undermine public confidence in the health system, the government
says.

Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell and opposition health spokeswoman Jillian Skinner
today released a leaked NSW Ambulance staff survey which found about seven in 10 ambulance
officers felt they were overworked.

The 2007 Ambulance Corporate Culture survey also found about four in five ambulance
officers did not believe the service dealt with staff stress effectively.

Over half the 236 officers surveyed said the NSW Ambulance Service also did not deal
effectively with harassment and bullying.

Health Minister Reba Meagher said the opposition's release was "factually incorrect"

and a cheap shot.

"There's no limit to the cheap shots the opposition will take to undermine public confidence
in our health system and ambulance service," Ms Meagher said in a statement.

The government was working hard to meet public demand for ambulance services in the
state with increased funding and resources, she said.

Ms Meagher did not detail any incorrect figures in the opposition's statement, but
listed other statistics about increases in staff and vehicles.

She also said the opposition statement was almost identical to one it had issued in
July last year which had misinterpreted documents obtained under Freedom of Information.

AAP sg/wjf/jfm/mn

KEYWORD: AMBULANCE MEAGHER

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