Wednesday 17 May 2017

The Andrews Labor Government has fast-tracked a new paramedic team in Sale and a new vehicle as part of its record $500 million plan to cut ambulance response times and employ 450 new paramedics across Victoria.

Member for Eastern Victoria, Harriet Shing today announced seven extra full time paramedics were now on the road in Sale, with a new peak period ambulance service responding to life threatening medical emergencies.

This comes on top of the existing teams at the 24-hour Sale ambulance branch that includes a MICA team, two day shift teams and a night team.

They are all based at a temporary location in Sale while a new branch is being built. New teams recently came online in other areas of Gippsland, including in Moe, Traralgon and Warragul.

This boost means paramedics in Sale and throughout Gippsland have the extra resources they need to respond even faster to emergencies and save more lives.

The Andrews Labor Government is rebuilding Sale Ambulance Station as part of a $20 million investment to modernise and upgrade ambulance facilities across Victoria.

Sale Ambulance Station is more than 50 years old and is no longer fit for purpose. It is too small to accommodate the service, and lacks training space and adequate rest facilities.

The new purpose-built Sale branch will feature spacious and functional garages for vehicles, and modern facilities for paramedics, including lounge areas, a kitchen, training rooms and amenities.

The Labor Government is rebuilding Victoria’s ambulance system after four years of crisis and neglect under the former Liberal Government, with the biggest ever investment in Victoria’s ambulance services.

The record $500 million funding boost is on top of the $26 million provided in the Victorian Budget 2017/18 to continue our work improving response times to meet the needs of our growing population.

After two years of investing in and reforming the ambulance system, more ambulances are arriving at emergencies sooner. For the first time since 2010, Ambulance Victoria is now responding to 80 per cent of Code one cases within the 15 minute target.

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing
 
“Sale families can have peace of mind that paramedics are now responding even faster to medical emergencies.”

“In an emergency, every second counts. That’s why we’ve fast-tracked these new resources to get more paramedics and ambulances on the road, and save more lives.”

“Instead of going to war with our paramedics, we’re working with them and investing in more paramedics, more vehicles and a state-of-the-art new branch in Sale.”