Monday, July 30, 2007
** Eastern US medics’ strike averted
** BC Ambulance paramedic charged with sexual assault
** Staffing shortages could push South Australia medics to strike
** New South Wales ambos resign in droves
UNITED STATES NEWS
** An 11th hour agreement with paramedics in the National Emergency Services Association (NEMSA) union has averted a strike involving over 1,000 eastern US practitioners. That is the word from the Boston Herald (Mike Underwood/July 30) which said the deal with American Medical Response remains tentative, though a NEMSA spokesman said the agreement is expected to be ratified. Under the terms of the settlement, practitioners will receive a 14.75 per cent pay hike over two years. Impacting 76 different communities, the strike would have extended to Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire.
CANADA NEWS
** A BC Ambulance paramedic is set to appear in court today on charges he sexually assaulted a juvenile boy in his care. The Vancouver Province (July 3) said Port Coquitlam resident Mark Husereau, 43, was charged with both sexual assault and touching a person under 14 for a sexual purpose. Husereau was fired from his job July 16 following an internal investigation. He had logged sixteen years on the job. The alleged incident occurred while en route to BC Children’s Hospital June 24.
AUSTRALIA NEWS
** Chronic staff shortages are prompting some South Australia medics to talk industrial action. The Advertiser (Kim Wheatley/July 31) said practitioners are growing increasingly frustrated by less than stellar response times. According to the Ambulance Employees’ Association, the last three months have seen providers reach life threatening emergencies only 20 per cent of the time within seven minutes. Association spokesman Phil Palmer said the system is in crisis. Palmer said because the service is down at least one crew each and every day, there is an ongoing reliance on single man crews and intern EMTs.
