Cash boost for ambulances

By Melissa Meehan
AMBULANCE services in Yarra Junction and Box Hill are to receive a major boost as part of the Brumby Government’s $185.7 million Victorian ambulance services package.
Health Minister Daniel Andrews said the package ensured families had access to the best health system no matter where they lived.
“A new ‘peak period unit’ supported by additional ambulance vehicles will be established at Yarra Junction, in a $3.58 million boost to ambulance services at busy times of the day,” Mr Andrews said.
“A new 24-hour paramedic team supported by additional ambulance stretcher vehicles will be based at Box Hill, in an investment of more than $6 million to the area.”
New single MICA paramedic responders will also be introduced at Ringwood and Box Hill hoping to provide greater flexibility and a faster response to emergency cases.
“This is great news for local residents,” Mr Andrews said.
The news of the boost to ambulance services couldn’t come at a better time for residents living in the Yarra Valley.
According to data obtained by Ambulance Employees Australia, one in 10 patients in Healesville, serviced by Box Hill, waits 30 minutes for an ambulance to arrive, and communities served by the Yarra Junction station, including Warburton, Millgrove and Launching Place, are not much better off, with one in 10 patients waiting for 24 minutes.
These figures show that a number of Yarra Valley residents are not reached within the 15-minute benchmark set by the government.