The Service has confirmed rural and regional patients are unlikely to see the new ICP clinical equipment currently being deployed in Metro. Despite this, rural and regional ICPs are still being asked to travel to Sydney to undertake training on the equipment.

Spending time away from family in Sydney is not ideal in normal circumstances, but it is a waste of time if it is to be trained on equipment a patient may never see.

The NSW Government is also advising to avoid travel if possible.

On that basis, ADHSU members who would rather wait to undertake the training at a time when the equipment will be available to patients locally should politely refuse to go to Sydney.

We will monitor management’s response to this and move to ban forced travel to Sydney for the ICP upgrade course if needed.