The new proposal has been fully supported by the Regional Communities Consultative Council - an independent advisory body to the NSW Government.

“The proposal to have ambulance officers in small rural communities supplementing their duties with immunisation and child health is in principle a good one,” Chair of the RCCC Ms Diana Gibbs said.

“It directly reflects the views the RCCC has received from regional communities that services should be more integrated. Valuable skills such as those held by our paramedics should be not be constrained by inflexible barriers, whatever they may be.

“May I venture the view that the ambulance service should consider an even broader approach in regional NSW. Co-location of the ambulance service with their local hospital and helping out in times of need is another obvious move.

“Country people cannot understand the separation of ambulances from the local hospitals which seems to cause problems in some communities.

“After all, both organisations are working towards the same goal - peoples health and well being.

“The initiatives proposed reflect what communities are saying - that we need more flexibility at the local level to make the most of the assets we have, and that includes our skilled professionals.”