New figures show Colac-Otway patients are receiving a quicker response from their ambulance service.
Released by Acting Minister for Ambulance Services, James Merlino, the new Ambulance Victoria figures show significant improvement since the election of the Andrews Labor Government.
The average time for an ambulance to reach the scene of a Code 1 accident or emergency in Colac-Otway has improved from 18:27 minutes in 2013/14 – the last full year of the previous Liberal Government – to 17:03 in the 12 months to the end of June this year.
Over the same period, the proportion of ambulances which arrived within the benchmark 15 minutes for the most time-critical patients – including cardiac arrest, heart attack, major trauma and stroke patients – improved from 57 per cent to 58.8 per cent.
The improved performance reflects Labor’s determination to fix the ambulance crisis, left by the previous Liberal Government.
Under the last Victorian Budget, the Labor Government invested an additional $144 million in the ambulance system to make sure patients were getting the care they needed, when they needed it.
The Budget also contained a $27.3 million boost to rebuild and upgrade ambulance stations and purchase additional vehicles – giving local paramedics the modern facilities they deserve.
In contrast, in their last year in office, the previous Liberal Government were shown to be responsible for Victoria having the worst ambulance response times on Australia’s mainland.
Colac-Otway Shire’s latest ambulance response data shows:
- 58.8% of Code 1 ambulances arrived within 15 minutes in 2015/16, up from 57.0% in 2013/14.
- The average response time to reach the scene was 17:03 minutes in 2015/16, an improvement on the 18:27 minute arrival time in 2013/14.
Quotes attributable to Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP
“Even as our population grows, response times are still improving. It shows that at long last, our ambulance services are getting the support they need.”
“Our investment in ambulance services means patients in the Colac-Otway community are receiving the care they need sooner.”
Quotes attributable to Acting Minister for Ambulance Services James Merlino
“The figures couldn’t be clearer. The Andrews Labor Government’s commitment to improving our ambulance service means a safer and quicker response for local patients.”
“Under the previous Liberal Government, emergency wait times ballooned and patients suffered. Thanks to our investment ambulance services, that’s changing.”