By Renee Wood
Ambulance response times to the Yarra Ranges have dipped to their worst they’ve been in the past year with just 54.8 per cent of code one calls being reached under 15 minutes.
From 1 April to 30 June, there was a total of 2,144 code one calls, which are incidents that require urgent paramedic and hospital care. The average response was 17 minutes and 23 seconds (17:23).
This is in comparison to the same quarter last year which saw 84.4 per cent of calls reached under 15 minutes and an average of 15:13 response time.
The previous quarter was also better with 60.3 per cent of calls reached under 15 minutes and an average wait time of 16:14.
The average response time for a code two patients, which are acute and time sensitive but not life threatening, was 40:52 with 878 calls.
The best response time in the past financial year for code two was July – September 2021 seeing 29:24 wait times with 1,180 calls.
The latest data release has broken records, making April to June this year the busiest quarter in Ambulance Victory’s history and it’s the third consecutive record-breaking quarter.
Ambulance Victoria Interim Chief Executive Felicity Topp said the response times are being impacted by the soaring demand and there’s no signs of it slowing down this season.
“Our paramedics are working extremely hard to manage the increasing demand while prioritising care to the sickest Victorians,” Ms Topp said.
“Despite our current challenges in this COVID-19-environment, Ambulance Victoria continues to deliver safe and high-quality patient outcomes.”
Ms Topp said one in five calls to triple zero do not need emergency ambulance responses and the community is urged to contact non-urgent care services, if your condition is not life threatening.
“GPs and pharmacists can provide non-urgent care and Nurse-On-Call (1300 60 60 24) offers free medical advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, if your condition is not life-threatening,” she said.
“Some people hesitate to call 000 because they are not sure if their situation is an emergency. If in doubt, always call Triple Zero (000) and the trained call-taker will help and direct you.
Ms Topp said due to the demand, there are now more paramedics on the road and more Ambulance Victoria Offload (AVOL) teams to rapidly transfer patients to hospital care.
“These teams, established as part of our pandemic response efforts to improve patient flow at the ambulance and hospital interface, are now being expanded to 14 public hospitals and a further five are in planning,” Ms Topp said.
“They are made up of paramedics and nurses who receive handover of suitable patients after triage, allowing ambulance crews to get back on the road faster.
“Meanwhile, a record 700 paramedics were recruited in 2021 and a further 404 paramedics have already been recruited this year to help get more ambulances on the road.”
