NSW Ambulance promised to double staff at Merimbula from six to 12 although only 10 staff are shown on the new roster due to start this weekend. However despite the extra staff, local paramedic and Health Services Union (HSU) delegate Chris Branson, said the outcome will be worse for the community with less coverage during the busy daytime.

During the next nine weeks there are several weeks when the roster is not fully staffed leaving Merimbula vulnerable and reliant on help from Eden or Bega paramedics. 

“In the first proper week of this roster eight extra overtime shifts will be needed. If we don’t have people able to do extra shifts there will be days and nights with no ambulance cover in Merimbula,” Mr Branson said.

“This could be a mortal struggle and it could be someone I know or love,” Mr Branson said.

The new roster has one crew during the day and one crew overnight while an alternative roster proposed by the HSU has two crews on during the busy daytime and paramedics on call for the night.

South Coast president of the HSU paramedics branch Mick Grayson said that Merimbula is one of the busiest stations in NSW in terms of the call outs covered per ambulance with an annual average of 1500 callouts during the day and 600 calls during the night.

“There are a number of days where there is only one paramedic or no paramedic in Merimbula. This is an urgent situation which we want to see resolved,” Mr Grayson said.

Member for Bega Andrew Constance agrees and is backing the paramedics wholeheartedly.

“There should be no gaps and I will again go back to Minister Hazzard (Health Minister Brad Hazzard),” Mr Constance said.

Mr Branson thanked Mr Constance for his support and added that it was important that anyone who thought they needed an ambulance called triple zero.

NSW Ambulance has been asked for a comment.