Ambulance officers are making their own calls on whether to wear super-protective spacesuit-style clothes during the swine flu scare.

On the Gold Coast last week, paramedics took no risks transporting elderly patients with flu symptoms.

Emergency Services staffers have strongly rejected criticism of an over-reaction.

“The officers on the ground make the calls themselves on a case-by-case basis. They get the information to make that decision from the communications centre,” a staffer said.

Read full article: The Courier-Mail