Upgrade to avoid ambulance delays

Casey Hospital’s Emergency Department will receive a $10.12 million boost in a State Government bid to reduce ambulance ramping.
The department will gain a transit lounge for initial assessment of arriving patients to avoid ambulance crews having to wait to hand over their patients.
Paediatric assessment and treatment areas will also be specially secluded from the rest of the emergency department.
In theory, the changes will free up space for ambulance patients in the hospital and reduce the numbers of patients parked in queuing ambulances outside.
Narre Warren South MP Judith Couacaud Graley said the initiatives would move patients more quickly from the department to hospital beds.
“Not only will this ensure that patients get the treatment they need sooner but it will also enable our paramedics to get back out on the road.”
The funding is part of a State Government $500 million announcement to improve ambulance response times.