Paramedics 'tampering with drugs'

Police have launched an investigation into allegations several paramedics have been substituting the drug, fentanyl, with other fluids.

Ambulance officers first raised the concerns three months ago but the NSW Opposition's health spokeswoman, Jillain Skinner, says she has been told paramedics may have been abusing the drugs for up to 18 months.

"This is amazing that you can have an Ambulance Service and a Government that seems not to consider this a risk," she said.

"If the paramedics have known about it, they've been advising the Ambulance Service about it. Why hasn't action been taken before this?"

The Emergency Medical Services Protection Association has called on the NSW Ambulance Service to recall officers' kits and replace the painkiller vials.

"The type of vials they're using are not tamper proof so we want them to withdraw the vials they're using and bring out a tamper-proof vial," spokesman Grant Jennison said.

"Patients received possibly a contaminated drug and whether that's put them at risk is an unknown question.

"We need the ambulance service to withdraw these drugs and to also notify patients that may have received them."

The Ambulance Service is believed to be investigating the allegations.