The EMSPA NSW Committee are very excited to report that our legal team has been awarded costs for the defence of a NSW Paramedic charged with negligent driving last year.
An Intensive Care Paramedic from Blacktown was charged with negligent driving last year after a collision whilst responding on a triple zero call to an unconscious person. Despite 4 requests to the Ambulance Service of NSW for assistance and support with the matter, they declined simply surmising that he wasn't being careful enough. It is important to note that independent witness statements reported the other driver was travelling "way too fast".
An Intensive Care Paramedic from Blacktown was charged with negligent driving last year after a collision whilst responding on a triple zero call to an unconscious person. Despite 4 requests to the Ambulance Service of NSW for assistance and support with the matter, they declined simply surmising that he wasn't being careful enough. It is important to note that independent witness statements reported the other driver was travelling "way too fast".
The issue of paramedics being charged with driving offences whilst responding to urgent cases had been unresolved for too long. After the EMSPA raised awareness of this issue in the media over the space of a few months last year, the Ambulance CEO finally came forward to offer support to the paramedic concerned and the matter was only then passed to the Crown Solicitor's Office, some 7 months after the incident.
During this time, the paramedic had of course been receiving support and legal assistance via the EMSPA. Once the matter had been dealt with and the charges withdrawn, the EMSPA legal team made an application to the courts to recover costs in relation to the legal defence with the argument that the paramedic should have been supported by the Ambulance Service from the beginning and that the entire process of charging emergency service workers with driving offences in such circumstances required vary careful investigation.
On Wednesday 24th February, the EMSPA were informed that our application for costs was successful; a big win for the Association. The outcome and overall path of this case is of benefit for every NSW paramedic who simply want to be supported to do the best job they can for the people of NSW.
On Wednesday 24th February, the EMSPA were informed that our application for costs was successful; a big win for the Association. The outcome and overall path of this case is of benefit for every NSW paramedic who simply want to be supported to do the best job they can for the people of NSW.
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Last Updated (Thursday, 04 March 2010 00:04)