By Laura Michell
Ambulance response times in Moorabool have improved over the past year, but are still failing to meet state government benchmarks, new figures show.
Ambulance Victoria data for the three months to June 30 shows that the average response time for code one emergencies in Moorabool is 13.12 minutes, down from 14.07 minutes in June 2017.
The data also revealed 71.6 per cent of life-saving code one call-outs arrived within 15 minutes. However, the benchmark is 85 per cent.
In June 2017, just 55.7 per cent of code one call-outs arrived within 15 minutes.
Ambulance Victoria Grampians regional director Chris James said that while there had been a significant decrease in response times, there was still room for improvement.
He said paramedics in Moorabool covered a large area, which affected their response times.
There was also an increase in demand for ambulances in Moorabool in the past 12 months, Mr James said.
“We will continue monitoring, improving and reviewing the needs of our customers and their expectations,” he said.
“We are aiming to give our patients our best care.”
In Melton, the average code one response time is 10.46 minutes, down from 11.36 minutes in June 2017.
Eighty-five per cent of call-outs arrived within 15 minutes.
Ambulance Victoria chief executive Tony Walker said that overall, the June results were the best in the history of Ambulance Victoria.
“Our organisation has transformed dramatically over the past decade. The co-ordinated, statewide service we now provide … is delivering remarkable patient outcomes each and every day,” he said.
