NT Ambulance Service Is in Big Trouble

Stateline

Topic: Ambulance Service

In short:

The NT's ambulance service is in trouble and needs more help.

The new CEO, Abigail Trewin, is very worried about the service.

What's next?

The CEO hopes the May budget will bring more money to help.

The NT's ambulance service is in big trouble and might collapse.

The service was very busy last month and had to call for extra help.

Some people had to wait a long time for help, and it was very serious.

The CEO said she was very upset by what's happening to paramedics.

The public needs to know that the service is struggling.

'Fortunate' no one died

The CEO said it was lucky no one died, but some people got hurt.

She told a story about a woman who had a seizure and had to wait.

The ambulance service is under a lot of pressure.

The CEO said wait times can only get better with more help.

We need to do better, but we need more resources.

Paramedics 'pulled from vehicles' and 'beaten'

Paramedics are facing a lot of violence on the job.

Abigail Trewin says NT paramedics are very sad.

The service records many incidents every day.

Staff members have been pulled from vehicles and beaten.

The NT service is losing many staff members.

The ABC went with paramedics to see how under-resourcing is affecting them.

The CEO found a very sad workforce when she started.

NT paramedics are paid well, but the problem is the workload.

The CEO told a story about a bad car accident.

Paramedics have to deal with very tough situations all day.

$10m 'sugar hit' not enough to ease pressure

The NT government gave $10m to help the service.

The CEO is grateful for the money, but it's not enough.

The money will help a little, but the service needs more.

The service needs more ambulances and funding to keep up with the growing population.

It's a small request to support an essential service.

The CEO said the service might not be able to continue without more help.

If the service can't get more help, it will have to make big changes.

The NT budget will be announced on May 5.