NSW: Iemma says ambos in hospitals "short-term measure"

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NSW: Iemma says ambos in hospitals "short-term measure"

SYDNEY, Aug 5 AAP - The use of off-duty ambulance officers to help out in emergencydepartments had been so encouraging that NSW government was looking at extending the systembeyond the current five hospitals, Health Minister Morris Iemma said today.

Since last week, NSW Ambulance staff have been rostered on to monitor patients at thePrince of Wales, St George, Liverpool, Westmead and Nepean hospital emergency departments.

Mr Iemma said it was only a short-term solution to the demands on public hospitals.

"What this initiative is designed to do is to release the ambulance officers so theycan get back on the road to their vehicles and respond to the call-outs," Mr Iemma toldreporters.

"The initiative that's been announced with ambulance officers is a bridge to a better solution.

"We're working on a more permanent solution to the problem of access block.

"This is something which is so far encouraging in terms of reducing trolley delay atour hospitals ... and (we) are keen to extend it with the cooperation of ambulance officersand their union and nurses in our public hospitals."

Mr Iemma said the public hospital system was coping with peak winter demand.

"We need to use all the of the available resources that we've got to help our systemcope," he said.

AAP jph/nf/jlw

KEYWORD: AMBULANCE