Ambulance Victoria has recorded yet another surge in demand for services across the state, putting pressure on the system and staff.
Paramedics have responded to more than 100,000 seriously ill people in a three-month period for the first time ever, as Covid-19 continues to place a massive strain on the entire health system.
Ambulance Victoria Executive Director Clinical Operations Anthony Carlyon said ambulance responses for the second quarter of 2022/23 were impacted by soaring demand, sicker patients, and staff furloughing due to Covid-19.
“October to December was the busiest quarter in Ambulance Victoria’s history with paramedics called to a record 100,234 Code 1 cases,” Mr Carlyon said.
“That’s 9.7 per cent or 8,837 more ‘lights and sirens’ cases compared to same time in 2021 and a huge 35.8 per cent increase from 73,797 Code 1 cases just five years ago.
“In the face of this record demand and the impacts of Covid-19 on our lives, our dedicated paramedics continue to do an amazing job delivering world-class care to our patients.”
From October to December, paramedics responded to 60.2 per cent of Code 1 cases within the state-wide average target of 15 minutes. The state-wide average response time to Code 1 cases was 16 minutes and 44 seconds.
During the quarter, an average of 112 staff a day were furloughed due to Covid-19. As a new wave of Covid-19 spread, the number of staff furloughed increased from a low of 31 on 1 October 2022 to a peak of 202 on 20 December 2022.
On top of staff furlough, Ambulance Victoria was also impacted by time spent handing over patients at busy hospitals and reduced access to primary care in the community.
Mr Carlyon said paramedics were seeing a record proportion of sicker patients who needed the most serious, time-critical Code 1 response.
“A year ago, life-threatening Code 1 cases made up 42 per cent of the total Triple Zero (000) demand – which has now risen to 46 per cent in this quarter,” Mr Carlyon said.
“And on 27 December 2022, paramedics responded to 1,304 Code 1 cases – the first time we have broken 1,300 Code 1 cases in one day.
“That is why I encourage all Victorians to take care of themselves and keep regular check-ups with your GP or specialist before your condition worsens and you need to call for our lifesaving care – or for more minor ailments, visit your local Priority Primary Care Centre.”
Mr Carlyon said we remain busy, attending 1800 to 2000 cases a day, and continue to ask the community to help save Triple Zero (000) for emergencies.
“From October to December, 41,440 callers to Triple Zero (000) did not need an emergency ambulance and were instead connected by paramedics and nurses in our Secondary Triage team to more appropriate care,” Mr Carlyon said.
“That results in 500 or more cases every day being safely matched to services that better suit their needs while also avoiding emergency dispatch. While ambulances are always provided to patients when required, about one in five calls to Triple Zero (000) do not need an emergency ambulance response.
“Ambulance Victoria is working hard to relieve pressure in the system and get ambulances back on the road faster with more than 1,300 paramedics recruited over the past two years.
“For less urgent cases we’ve tripled the size of our Secondary Triage team, while paramedics on the road have referred over 23,000 cases to the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED) since October 2021 to help avoid unnecessary trips to our busy hospitals.
“Meanwhile, our Medium Acuity Transport Service (MATS) crews dedicated for less-urgent calls are freeing up more ambulances to respond to the most critically ill patients.”
