The introduction of extended care paramedics in Victoria would relieve the strain on the over-stretched ambulance service and overburdened hospital emergency departments, according to the state’s paramedics union.

Ambulance Employees Association Victoria general secretary Steve McGhie said the relatively new ambulance concept, similar to paramedic practitioners in some overseas countries, could result in low-risk patients being treated safely at home rather than being transported to hospital.

Extended-care paramedics in New South Wales and South Australia can prescribe antibiotics, stitch wounds and unblock catheters.

“We have got to reduce the demands on hospitals and start treating people in their own environment,” Mr McGhie said.

“We need more paramedics but we also need to look into different levels of ambulance service.

“They could prescribe certain drugs and insert catheters…a lot of things could be dealt with at home.”

Mr McGhie said the measure would require a new level of training for paramedics.

In New South Wales, a three–year trial of extended-care paramedics has kept 10,000 patients out of the state’s hospitals.

Figures show four in 10 patients treated by extended care paramedics did not end up in hospital compared with two in 10 seen by other paramedics, while each patient treated at home saved the state’s health department $255.

The South Australian Ambulance Service has also introduced extended care paramedics after a successful six-month trial.