Vic paramedic shortage risks lives: union AMBULANCES are sitting idle because of a staffing shortage that is putting Victorian lives at risk, a union says. The Ambulance Employees Association alleges one man has already died because help didn't come fast enough. The 60-year-old Bayswater resident waited four hours for paramedics after his granddaughter placed a call on March 7. When the paramedics arrived they got no response to their knocking, had to break into the home and found the man had died. The union's state secretary, Steven McGhie, said the ambulance that was dispatched was diverted en route to an elderly woman with a badly lacerated leg, who had already been waiting about four hours. He said so far this year at least 200 work shifts had gone unfilled due to staff shortages and there were fears more lives could be lost over Easter as the long weekend increased demand for paramedics. According to the union, the man was listed as a Code 2 case and should have had an ambulance within 25 minutes. Ambulance Victoria regional manager for metro east Cath Anderson said the organisation was reviewing the Bayswater case and would meet with the family to discuss the outcome. She said more paramedics would be rostered on over the Easter period to help cover extra demand. The union is negotiating a new enterprise bargaining agreement with Ambulance Victoria. Ms Anderson said Ambulance Victoria was working hard to find "productivities" so paramedics who worked shifts could achieve wage increases above the 2.5 per cent government policy. The state government has been contacted for comment.