The move kicked in yesterday after the NSW government refused to sack Ambulance Service chief executive Greg Rochford.

The Health Services Union (HSU) gave the government 48 hours to commit to employing 300 additional officers and firing the ambulance service boss earlier this week.

An HSU spokeswoman told the Port News that patients would not be negatively affected.

More than 300 paramedics marched on state parliament house in Sydney on Tuesday to make their demands known.

NSW HSU spokesman Michael Williamson said staffing shortages were pushing officers to the point of exhaustion.

“The ban will remain in place until the government agrees to ambulance officer demands, and it will cost the state an expected $1.5 million a week in lost revenue,” Mr Williamson said.

“We’re left with no other alternative ... from midday today (Thursday), all of the community of NSW will have a free ride on the ambulances in this state.”

Mr Rochford again refused to stand aside yesterday saying he could see a way through the situation.

“Progress has been made in meetings this morning on addressing overtime issues and staffing of rescue units,” he said.

“There is extra staff on the table, there is extra staff planned.

“We will continue to talk with the union to better understand the issues that they’re intending to resolve on the overtime work and I’m sure we can get a way through.”