By Matthew Sims
The number of code one ambulance responses to callouts within Hobsons Bay which arrived within 15 minutes within the April to June period have dropped by 4.9 per cent compared to the January to March quarter, according to Ambulance Victoria data.
According to the data, 61.4 per cent of ambulance callouts within Hobsons Bay arrived within 15 minutes, with an average response time of 15 minutes and 35 seconds across 1385 code one responses.
The data also highlighted that the proportion of code 1 callouts within Maribyrnong which arrived within 15 minutes during the April to June quarter increased by 1.3 per cent to 70.5 per cent, compared to the previous quarter.
The average response time for code one responses within Maribyrnong also fell by a minute to 14 minutes and 27 seconds across 1188 code one responses.
Ambulance Victoria acting metropolitan region director Jess McGowan said the service has continued to respond to up to 2000 calls per day.
“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to put unprecedented pressure on the health system across Victoria and the nation,” she said.
“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.
Victorian Ambulance Union general secretary Danny Hill said the urban areas, such as Footscray, had seen positive response times despite high demand.
“If you’re in Footscray, you’re driving a short distance to hospital,” he said.
“There has been enormous investment in ambulances and I am happy that we are seeing the shift in thinking towards looking at ways to reduce demand rather than just continually trying to mop up the workload with more paramedics.
“We really need state and federal governments to work together so that we’ve got nurses in aged care facilities with the right support available to treat patients there, rather than taking them into hospital by ambulance.”
