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Bailieu offers paramedic incentives

A coalition government would offer incentives for paramedics to work in regional areas under its $151 million ambulance election pledge.

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(AAP)

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Source: AAP


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Launching the ambulance policy on Monday, Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu promised to recruit an extra 340 ambulance staff over the next four years.

The new recruits would include 30 new patient transport officers and 310 new paramedics, including 240 for regional stations.

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Mr Baillieu said the package included $3 million for recruitment and relocation expenses to attract new paramedics to the bush.

"We'll work with Ambulance Victoria and paramedics to work out what the best way to spend that (is) in order to create the incentives to get people to shift and also to keep those who are there," Mr Baillieu told reporters.

"There will be some incentives... there are obviously potential for relocation expenses, potential for some additional support in terms of the services available at stations, those sorts of things, so we'll look at all the options available."

Mr Baillieu said the opposition would embark on an interstate recruitment drive as well as try to poach paramedics from New Zealand.

Most of the 340 extra staff would be recruited within the first two-and-a-half years of a coalition government, he said.

Mr Baillieu said a lack of investment in paramedics had cost lives.

"The targets haven't been met, lives are being put at risk, there are staff shortages, the wait times are too long and really the system's in chaos."

The government is expected to announce a boost for ambulance services in coming weeks.


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