The ongoing stoush between the Health Services Union and John Hunter Hospital over the operation of the Westpac rescue helicopter has led to calls for the New South Wales Health Minister to step in.
Union secretary Gerard Hayes thinks the best way to resolve the ongoing issue is for the Minister Hazzard to intervene on the contentious issue.
The HSU claims a unique arrangement with John Hunter Hospital and the rescue service is putting lives at risk, as the hospital insists on fitting out the chopper with its nurses rather than using paramedics that are already on hand.
Gerard Hayes says the turn-around to refit the helicopter and its crews under this model can take up to an hour and a half, which in emergency situations is simply too long.
"We're advocating that the Newcastle model would fall into line with all other models in the state where there's one crew that will address both issues [of primary rescue and secondary retrieval]."
The HSU claims enough reviews have been conducted to safely implement the single crew model, which is in use in every other jurisdiction in NSW.
They hope Minister Hazzard will be able to bring "resolution" to the "absurd" staffing situation.
