Friday, November 16, 2012

** Australian medics in ACT overpaid by accident;now tasked with returning thousands of dollars to service

** Ornge air ambulance still having trouble with staffing at Ontario’s Thunder Bay base

AUSTRALIA NEWS

** Ambulance personnel in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) are being asked to pay back thousands of dollars in wages due to an accounting error. That is the word from the Canberra Times (November 15) which said one EMS practitioner will have to reimburse his service to the tune of $44,000. According to the newspaper, some 80 per cent of prehospital staff were overpaid when it came to leave time. Emergency Services Minister Simon Corbell said medics will have up to 26 weeks to return the unearned cash. Corbell did say, however, he would continue to investigate to ensure that the payback figures cited are accurate.

CANADA NEWS

** Ornge air ambulance in Thunder Bay is continuing to struggle with staffing. The TB News Watch (November 14) said only two EMS crews are available at the site to man three medevac aircraft. According to the newspaper, the base uses one helicopter and two airplanes to cover the region. The chopper is usually the vehicle left without a crew. Ornge spokesman James MacDonald said a funding request has been sent to the Ministry of Health to remedy the problem. So far, no reply has been forthcoming.