An ambulance officer was told his career was "absolutely over" after senior management learned he was being bullied on the job, an inquiry has heard.
An officer for 16 years, Tim Castle was working in Bathurst, in NSW's central west, when he was struck by a motorbike travelling at 120km/h at a motocross event in July 2002.
Mr Castle suffered multiple spinal fractures and was told he was lucky to be alive, but he returned to work three and a half months later carrying out light duties.
Speaking today at a parliamentary inquiry into the NSW Ambulance Service, he said he had been bullied and harassed from his first day back on the job.
Mr Castle told the inquiry the bullying continued through his rehabilitation, coming to a head when NSW Ambulance Service executives toured the region in 2003.
He said he was warned by his area superintendent not to raise his issues with the executives but to leave his colleagues to do it on his behalf.
When an executive asked Mr Castle about his problems, he told them he was willing to talk but in "another forum".
For the next two hours, his regional superintendent sat across from him giving "the foulest, most intimidating looks the whole time", he told the inquiry.
"The minute the door was closed of the CEO of the ambulance service's car, my regional superintendent came up and put his hand on my shoulder," Mr Castle told the inquiry.
"And (he) said, `You've just f***ed yourself, son. Your career is absolutely over. I'm going to see you out. You're yesterday's news,' and walked away.
"That's my experience of compassion."
Mr Castle was medically retired from the service a short time time later, in October 2003, despite working 40 hours and five days a week at that time.
He was the last person to give evidence at the public hearings of the inquiry, which is focused on bullying and harassment in the service.
It has so far received 247 submissions. Many hearings have had to be held in private, with serving officers fearing retribution if they take part.
NSW Ambulance Service chief executive Greg Rochford today told the inquiry an education program would be established to better deal with bullying and workplace harassment.
However, Mr Rochford is facing resistance within the ranks of ambulance officers, who have vowed to continue giving patients free rides until he resigns.
The Health Services Union (HSU) today said its members would continue the industrial action, which began last Thursday, despite a recommendation from the NSW Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) to stop.
The union said its members want 300 more ambulance officers hired and Mr Rochford to be replaced by a uniformed head.
