By Molly Magennis
Ambulance response times have increased in Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay, as COVID continues to cause a significant strain on the system.
The latest Ambulance Victoria (AV) data reveals the impact that the Omicron variant has had on the service, with paramedics responding to 1084 call-outs in Maribyrnong between October and December 2021.
The data shows this is an increase of 190 calls when compared to the same period in 2020.
While wait times for code one incidents, which includes all life-threatening incidents, remained below the recommended average response time of 15 minutes, it was still an increase from the wait time recorded in the same period last year.
Residents in Maribyrnong on average, are having to wait for 13.53 minutes for an ambulance to respond. Between October and December 2020, the average wait time was 10.34 minutes.
The data revealed similar patterns in Hobsons Bay.
Paramedics responded to 1280 call-outs in Hobsons Bay between October and December 2021, an increase of 21% from the previous year.
The average response time in the municipality is 14.34 minutes, compared to 11.54 minutes in the same period in 2020.
The state-wide average response time to Code 1 cases was 15 minutes and 11 seconds.
Currently, as many as one-in-five calls to Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance do not actually need an emergency ambulance response.
Ambulance Victoria chief executive Professor Tony Walker said all Victorians can ease the pressure by only calling Triple Zero for emergencies.
“Every call for assistance that isn’t an emergency puts significant strain on our crews to reach those who need us the most,” he said.
“Demand is now higher than pre-pandemic levels. During the last quarter we were challenged by the peak of the Delta wave, the easing of COVID-19 restrictions and the emergence of the Omicron COVID-19 variant.”
The Victorian Ambulance Union was contacted for comment.
