New figures show Corangamite 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 Corangamite has improved from 21:10 minutes in the June quarter in 2014/15 to 20:54 in the same period 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 35.3 per cent to 39.3 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 forVictoriahaving the worst ambulance response times onAustralia’s mainland.
Corangamite Shire’s latest ambulance response data shows:
- 39.3% of ambulances arrived within 15 minutes in the three months to the end of June, up from 35.3% a year earlier
- The average response time for the three months to the end of June was 20:54 minutes, better than the 21:10 response a year earlier
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 Corangamite’s patients 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.”