Benjamin Millar
Ambulance response times for the most serious medical cases have blown out in Melton and Moorabool over the past 12 months, according to Ambulance Victoria data.
Figures showing code one first response performance by local government area (LGA), released last week, reveal a large increase in demand for ambulances triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to response time delays during life threatening emergencies.
There were 2265 code one responses in Melton in the three months to the end of June, with 62.9 per cent achieved in less than the 15 minute benchmark – down from 81.6 per cent for the 1692 call-outs in the same period the previous year.
The average waiting time blew out in the same period from 11 minutes and 32 seconds to 15 minutes.
Moorabool’s average response time grew from 13 minutes and 42 seconds for 424 code one call-outs to 16 minutes and 45 seconds for 456 call-outs, with just under half of responses meeting the benchmark compared to two thirds in the year prior.
Victorian Ambulance Union secretary Danny Hill said incredibly high workloads are having a massive effect on the morale of paramedics and ambulance workers.
“Paramedics and ambulance workers are exhausted. There is no downtime, they are regularly missing meal breaks and are working dangerous amounts of incidental overtime.”
A Department of Health spokesperson said the state government is spending $759 million across emergency departments, hospitals and ambulance services, including $266 million on additional triage services and non-emergency patient transfers.
Ambulance Victoria metro regional director Michael Georgiou said the entire healthcare system was continuing to feel the impacts of COVID-19.
“In the Melton and Moorabool regions, we are dealing with an extraordinary workload which is also being experienced by crews right across the state,” he said.
“We have already had additional paramedics start on-road within the Melton LGA and a new ambulance station is currently being built in Melton West.
“In the Moorabool LGA, Ballan Ambulance Station was recently upgraded to 24 hours with an additional six paramedics joining the hardworking team.”
