By Olivia Condous
Ambulance response times across Melton and Moorabool have once again been impacted by the latest COVID-19 surge, with the number of cases reaching the highest ever recorded.
According to the latest Ambulance Victoria performance data, the number of code 1 first responses for the Melton municipality reached 3036 during the latest quarter, a 34 per cent increase on the same period last year.
The number of response times under 15 minutes in the Melton LGA had dropped by 6 per cent compared to the last quarter with the average response time for a Code 1 first response increasing to 17:46 minutes.
The Moorabool Shire also had a 25 per cent increase in the number of first responses compared to the fourth quarter of the previous financial year.
Response times for the shire in the latest quarter rose again to 19:01 minutes, an improvement from the second quarter at 20:01 minutes, but still four minutes higher than the target time of 15 minutes.
Response times across the region are trending upwards, after the latest wave of COVID-19 cases has put pressure on Victoria’s health system.
The state has seen a 16 per cent increase in first response numbers compared to the same time last year and a record-breaking 97,928 Code 1 cases in the latest quarter.
Ambulance Victoria acting metro region director Jess McGowan said the pandemic continued to be an unprecedented pressure on Victoria’s health system.
“We’re working hard to relieve pressure in the system with more paramedics on the road and more resources at hospitals to help offload patients faster,” Ms McGowan said.
Victorian Ambulance Union general secretary Danny Hill said for regions on the Melbourne periphery, response times increased due to local ambulances being drawn in towards the city at busy times.
“The strain on hospitals means that crews are ramped longer, so the crews are stuck in the city. It leaves those towns uncovered,” Mr Hill said.
“That’s just a by-product of the very steep increase in demand right across Melbourne.”
