New South Wales Ambulance has launched an investigation into claims of opioid misuse in the service in the Hunter.
It comes after the family of a Lake Macquarie paramedic – who took his own life last month – spoke out.
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New South Wales Ambulance has launched an investigation into claims of opioid misuse in the service in the Hunter.
It comes after the family of a Lake Macquarie paramedic – who took his own life last month – spoke out.
These impromptu “ambush” meetings are standard practice in the ambulance service. They were done to me on more ham one occasion as well as others I have worked with. I’m now on workers comp with PTSD from the job and bullying that is rampant through out the entire service but particularly harmful in the Hunter region. The executive don’t care about the general masses only themselves. They aren’t sorry this happened, they’re only sorry they got caught.
Some years ago, I was suffering with severe PTSD as a result of bullying and exposure to traumatic events as part of my employment within the Ambulance Service of NSW. I struggled along for many months where I got to the stage of being totally dysfunctional. I went to a meeting with my District Inspector where I attended the meeting not having slept for 3 days. I was frank about what was going on in my life and with a smug look on his face he refused me any assistance. I went home completely disillusioned and attempted suicide but luckily failed. After a protracted period I was medical discharged from the Service.
After numerous inquiries into bullying and mental health issues over many years sadly it appears nothing has changed. I grieve for the Jenkins family and hope they get the answers they seek. I knew Tony having worked with him in the past and found him to be one of the nicest people you could meet. I too sort answers and received little comfort. I did discover after speaking to a one of the bosses that most mental health systems put in place are there to limit liability and have nothing to do with helping paramedics.
My deepest condolences to the Jenkins family.