By Jed Lanyon
The latest Ambulance Victoria response time data reveals a worrying trend for Yarra Ranges residents as ambulances are taking longer to reach patients in need.
The latest figures revealed the percentage of code 1 ambulances responding within 15 minutes has fallen by 5.5 percentage points, while the average code 1 response time has increased by over one-and-a-half minutes in the last quarter in the Yarra Ranges.
Code 1 incidents require urgent paramedic and hospital care, based on information available at time of call. But the results are less flattering for code 2 incidents, where the response is acute and time sensitive, but do not require lights and sirens from an ambulance.
Ambulances have a 66.5 per cent of code 1 response within 15 minutes from January to March 2021, much lower than the average of 85 per cent response to incidents statewide. The average code 2 response time has increased by almost five-and-a-half minutes in the last quarter in Yarra Ranges.
“Our response times are measured from the receipt of the triple zero (000) call until the first AV resource arrives on scene. Response times are influenced by many factors including traffic, distance required to travel, availability of ambulances and demand for our services,” the report reads.
Earlier in the month, Eastern Health took to social media to warn residents of their hospitals being in high demand.
“Please be aware, our three emergency departments (Angliss Hospital, Box Hill Hospital and Maroondah Hospital) are currently experiencing very high demand.
“Please keep the emergency department for emergencies. People with non-urgent, non-life threatening conditions should expect long waits.”
Opposition MP’s across the Yarra Ranges blasted the government for the figures. Eildon MP Cindy McLeish called on the Victorian Government to address the “growing ambulance crisis”.
“We need proper investment and resourcing in Ambulance Victoria to ensure it’s a reliable service the community can rely on when it matters most,” she said.
“Our emergency personnel do a great job often under difficult circumstances, we need to support our emergency services and provide quality facilities.”
While Evelyn MP Bridget Vallence labelled the response times as “unacceptable”.
“We need proper investment and resourcing in Ambulance Victoria to ensure it’s a reliable service that people in Yarra Ranges communities can rely on when it matters most.”
The State Government recently announced $759 million in funding for more paramedics, more triage care and support staff for Ambulance Victoria, as well as targeted funding to improve flow in busy emergency departments. The investment is also aimed to support the opening of new beds in health services across the state.
The government attributed the latest figures to “workforce fatigue from the global pandemic”.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Martin Foley said, “The pandemic has had a lasting impact, and states are seeing more ED presentations, more ambulance callouts – and less people seeing their GPs. With more paramedics, more beds and new types of triage, we’ll help Victoria recover faster and ensure our community continues to have access to the world-class care they deserve.
“Our paramedics are some of the hardest working in the country and this investment reinforces that we will always back them – and the extraordinary work they do.”
Ambulance Victoria recently started a six month trial that will see an ambulance and two paramedics located at Hillcrest Fire Station in a bid to boost response times in the area.
