Matt Male
Most Ambulance Victoria patients in the City of Casey are being seen within the recommended 15 minutes.
New data shows 64.6 per cent of Code 1 cases were attended to within 15 minutes, with an average response time of 15 minutes and 11 seconds.
That’s from 5019 cases in the 1 October to 31 December, 2023, period.
The average response time is up by 13 seconds compared to the previous quarter. And the percentage of patients being seen within 15 minutes is down 0.1 per cent – from 64.7 per cent to 64.6 per cent.
A Code 1 incident – also referred to as a “lights and sirens case” – requires urgent paramedic and hospital care, based on information available at the time of call.
Statewide, Ambulance Victoria paramedics are reaching patients nearly two minutes faster than a year ago.
That is despite increased demand for ambulances.
Ambulance Victoria executive director of clinical operations Anthony Carlyon said the average statewide response time to Code 1 cases was now under 15 minutes for the first time in more than two years.
“While there is more work ahead of us, it is encouraging our response to Code 1 emergencies improved a full minute and 46 seconds compared to a year ago,” Mr Carlyon said.
“The Productivity Commission’s recent Report on Government Services shows Victoria has Australia’s most trusted paramedics and leads the nation in cardiac arrest survival and pain management.
“Our dedicated paramedics and first responders are to be commended for the outstanding care they deliver to communities across the state.”
The last quarter of 2023 was the busiest in Ambulance Victoria’s history with 154,267 emergency cases. This includes 99,833 Code 1 cases – the second most on record – and 54,434 Code 2 cases.
“From October to December 2023, 38,695 people who did not need an emergency ambulance were instead connected to more appropriate care by paramedics and nurses in AV’s Secondary Triage team,” Mr Carlyon said.
“There are now so many options for people in the community to get timely, non-urgent health advice and save Triple Zero (000) for emergencies.
“For non-life-threatening matters, you can connect directly with emergency doctors and nurses at the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED) from anywhere in Victoria, at any time.
“Since October 2021, paramedics have referred more than 56,000 patients to the VVED, while a further 5400 have been referred to the VVED following assessment by our Secondary Triage team.
“Other options also include your local Priority Primary Care Centre, your GP or pharmacist, or Nurse-On-Call on 1300 60 60 24.
“While we continue to work with hospitals to improve transfer times, avoiding unnecessary ambulance attendances and trips to hospital relieves pressure in the health system and means paramedics are more available for emergencies in the community.”
