Thursday, 3 August 2017

Code 1 ambulance response times across Victoria hit 81 per cent in the last quarter – an improvement of six percentage points on the same period last year and the best June quarter result on record.

The Andrews Labor Government’s elective surgery blitz has also delivered, with an end of year waitlist of 36,839 – a phenomenal result given two additional health services have been added to the list last year. If these services had not been added, our waitlist would be the lowest on record and 1,747 lower than last year’s record result.

Despite record demand for emergency, elective surgery and ambulance services, more Victorians are receiving faster care across the system.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Jill Hennessy today released the latest ambulance and hospital performance data.

Locally, Bass Coast Regional Health in Wonthaggi has:

• Seen 3,636 people in emergency between April and June 2017 compared to 3,370 in the same period in 2016.
• Treated 100 per cent of the 7 category 1 emergency patients immediately on arrival between April and June 2017.
• Received 764 ambulance arrivals in the June quarter and 96.6 per cent of ambulance patients were transferred with 40 minutes compared to 91.7 per cent for the same period in 2016.

In the Bass Coast Shire, ambulance response times are improving, with 65.3 per cent of ambulances now arriving within 15 minutes for Code One emergencies, up from 61.7 per cent three months ago.

That means the average response time for an ambulance to reach the scene of a Code One emergency in the Bass Coast Shire has improved from 15:03 minutes to 13:57 minutes.

In the South Gippsland Shire, ambulance response times are improving, with 47.6 per cent of ambulances now arriving within 15 minutes for Code One emergencies, up from 40.2 per cent compared to the same time last year.

That means the average response time for an ambulance to reach the scene of a Code One emergency in the South Gippsland Shire has improved from 19:39 minutes to 19:13 minutes.

Improved performance across the state is a result of reforms over the past 18 months and the Labor Government’s $500 million plan to improve ambulance responses times, employ 450 paramedics, buy new vehicles and build more ambulance stations to meet the growing needs of the Victorian community.

Our record investments in health and hospitals are also delivering better care, sooner for Victorians.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Jill Hennessy

“We are making sure more Victorians – no matter where they live – get the care they need faster.”

“Our ambulance and health services are in the frontline giving patients the first class care they need and deserve, when they need it.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing:

“Our paramedics are getting to patients faster – when only minutes stand between life and death for some of our patients.

“Our elective surgery blitz is making a real difference with more patients coming off waiting lists and into the operating theatre sooner.”