THE specialist ambulance rescue unit, based at Caringbah, has been axed, breaking a bond with the community that goes back 40 years.
Paramedics claimed yesterday the decision to transfer rescue work in Sutherland Shire to the NSW Fire Brigades from today would lead to a downgrading of services.
However, Health Minister Reba Meagher said it would free up paramedics so that they could concentrate on providing emergency patient care.
"The community can be assured there will be no compromise in rescue services for people who need help,'' she added.
The Ambulance Service's first rescue unit was established at Rockdale in the 1960s after a community campaign led by former 2UE broadcaster Garry O'Callaghan, and moved to Caringbah, next to Sutherland Hospital, a few years later.
It is one of eight units scrapped in what the Health Services Union has called "a last minute, ill thought out and dangerous decision by a minister who is out of touch with everyday working ambulance officers''.
Caringbah ambulance station has 30 officers, of whom nearly two- thirds are rescue trained.
Bruce Tindale, a Caringbah-based paramedic who was speaking in his capacity as secretary of the union's Sydney sub-branch, said he had no doubt industrial action would flow from the "ludicrous decision''.
Mr Tindale said Fire Brigades rescue officers did not have anywhere near the same level of training as their ambulance counterparts, particularly in certain situations.
"We are one of the few rescue units in NSW to specialise in vertical rescue - rescuing people from cliffs,'' he said.
"The shire has a significant cliff line, and that's why we are equipped for this work.
"Between us, have more than 200 years of experience.
"The job will be handed over to people with little or no experience in vertical rescue.''
NSW Fire Brigades Commissioner Greg Mullins said there would be ``a seamless transition''.
"The high level of rescue service currently provided in the Sutherland Shire will be maintained,'' he said.
"One of the heavy rescue units located at Hurstville fire station will be relocated to Sutherland fire station.
"Engadine fire station will respond as a primary rescue unit and Bundeena fire station will respond with Sutherland and / or Engadine to serious accidents in the Royal National Park.
"Firefighters are trained, equipped and ready.''
Ms Meagher said the change would free up the equivalent of 88 paramedic positions across the state.
"In every jurisdiction in Australia and around the world, paramedics are focussed on delivering emergency patient care rather than using rescue tools,'' she said.
"The Ambulance Service of NSW is the only one in Australia which maintains a rescue function.
"In fact, even within NSW. the majority of rescue services are already provided by the NSW Fire Brigade and other specialist rescue units.
"So it makes sense for our highly-trained ambulance paramedics to focus on providing the sort of emergency patient care the community expects.''
Ms Meagher said a review undertaken earlier this year found that primary rescue work made up just 11 per cent of the work undertaken by ambulance rescue officers.
"The review also highlighted the duplication of resources,'' she said.
"When an ambulance rescue crew responds to an incident, a general ambulance crew is also dispatched to provide patient care and transportation.''
Should the service go or stay?