Members will recall EMSPA NSW Inc. has been providing legal assistance to a NSW Paramedic charged with negligent driving whilst responding urgently to an unconscious person. After 6 months of continued requests to the Ambulance CEO and significant assistance from EMSPA NSW, our member was finally provided assistance by Ambulance two months after his court case commenced. The matter was subsequently referred to the Attorneys Generals Department for funding approval and then on to the Crown Solicitors Office who took over the case.

Charges were subsequently dropped based on the evidence that there was no question of negligence on the part of the Paramedic driving the ambulance vehicle.

Further to the charge being dropped, Ambulance CEO Greg Rochford has made an announcement that Paramedics may be entitled to legal representation in the event that they are issued with an infringement whilst on urgent duty. Members will soon receive a member update fully explaining the chain of events and activities undertaken by EMSPA NSW in the past 6 months that have led to this very positive announcement by the CEO.

EMSPA NSW are proud to announce that this case now sets the precedent for Paramedics to be provided legal assistance whilst carrying out their duty. This is a significant outcome for all NSW paramedics. We hope to obtain further feedback from the Crown Solicitors Office in relation to this chain of events and any information received will be passed onto members.