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General News

11 August, 2022

Ambulance demand breaks records, local wait times grow

Demand for ambulances in Victoria has broken three consecutive records, while new recruits are headed to Maryborough and surrounds to help meet demand. Across the state, ambulances were called to 97,928 Code 1 cases from April to June, making it the...

By Christie Harrison

Demand for ambulances has continued to grow in Victoria, with wait times also extending.
Demand for ambulances has continued to grow in Victoria, with wait times also extending.

Demand for ambulances in Victoria has broken three consecutive records, while new recruits are headed to Maryborough and surrounds to help meet demand.

Across the state, ambulances were called to 97,928 Code 1 cases from April to June, making it the busiest quarter in Ambulance Victoria’s (AV) history, and third consecutive record-breaking quarter.

The recently released AV performance data covers April 1 to June 30 (quarter four) and shows response times to Code 1 incidents — those requiring an emergency lights and sirens response — and Code 2 — acute but not time critical incidents.

In Central Goldfields Shire, paramedics responded to 286 Code 1 incidents (a spike from 248 the previous quarter).

Code 1 patients waited an average 21 minutes for an ambulance — slower than during the same quarter last year with an average response time of 17 minutes and 52 seconds.

There were 198 responses to Code 1 incidents in Maryborough, with an average response time of 19 minutes and 39 seconds — the average wait time in the 2021 quarter four was 16 minutes.

Meanwhile, the average wait time for patients during Code 2 incidents in the Central Goldfields Shire was 48 minutes and four seconds — more than 12 minutes slower compared to the same 2021 quarter four.

Results were similar in Maryborough with an average response time of 47 minutes and 11 seconds.

Ambulance Victoria Loddon Mallee regional director Trevor Weston said data for quarter four shows response continues to be impacted by soaring demand, the wide spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, sicker patients who have deferred care, and staff furloughing.

“There are no signs of demand slowing down through winter. COVID-19 continues to pose a high risk to Victorians and will do for some time,” he said.

Mr Weston said AV is working to meet the increased demand, includ-ing recruiting new paramedics.

“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, including 34 in the Loddon Mallee Region,” he said.

Two of these new recruits will be headed to Maryborough later this month, another two to Castlemaine and three to Bendigo.

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