A supervisor who fell asleep while in charge of incoming 111 emergency calls for Wellington Free Ambulance was working a 12-hour shift with no rostered breaks, her lawyer says.
Lawyer Rob Moodie said Ionalee Wyllie was challenging an Employment Relations Authority decision throwing out her claim for unjustified dismissal. He planned to file an appeal with the Employment Court.
Dr Moodie said there were several reasons for her drowsiness, including a heart condition and medication.
Ms Wyllie, a solo mother in her 20s, was fired for serious misconduct after dozing off for about an hour on December 5. She admitted drinking alcohol the previous night and getting about five hours' sleep but claimed to have stopped drinking at midnight and denied being hung-over.
Ambulance service general manager Marty Smyth said all communications centre staff worked 12-hour shifts with two half-hour breaks. Ms Wyllie had not organised anyone to relieve her.
- NZPA
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