The ambulance officers will also consider a proposal calling for a Royal Commission into the NSW Ambulance Service and the way it is being run.

The officers are angry over a performance review which they say has failed to address management problems.

“We asked the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet review to look at management processes in the Ambulance Service from the CEO down,” Peter Rumball, an ambulance paramedic and Health Service Union organiser, told the Mercury yesterday.

“We wanted them to look at reasons why the service is in its present state, with morale at such a low level and stress and the rate of suicide among ambulance officers so high,” Mr Rumball said.

The review, released last week, recommended that the Lower Hunter should separate its work into emergency and non-emergency cases – using ambulances staffed by paramedics primarily for emergency work and patient transport services staffed by less qualified staff for non-emergency cases.

Other matters dealt with included staff training and equipment, clincial standards, recruitment, staff transfers and welfare support services.

“But the review has only looked at bits and pieces, like rosters and resources,” Mr Rumball said.

“If it had examined why the situation is like it is, the findings would embarrass the Government.