Shire ranks low in ambo response times

FINDINGS from Ambulance Victoria’s quarterly report have revealed Golden Plains Shire to have one of the lowest code one response times in Victoria.

The municipality’s average code one response time was 21 minutes and 40 seconds, with 23 per cent of turn outs taking within 15 minutes.

Ambulance Victoria’s statewide target goal is to have 85 per cent of code one responses take less than 15 minutes.

Ambulance Victoria’s Grampians regional director Peter Jenkins said the region had made some improvements compared to their previous average response time of 22 minutes and 35 seconds.

“January to March provided some welcome relief to our hard-working paramedics and first responders in Golden Plains who faced rising demand during the pandemic,” he said.

“In the Golden Plains LGA, we attended 239 ‘lights and sirens’ code one cases between January and March, 53 fewer than the previous quarter, which helped improve the average response time by nearly one minute.”

Response times were captured between Sunday, 1 January to Friday, 31 March, with data from Golden Plains Shire taken from 239 responses.

Dispatch code one is considered the most urgent ambulance call, requiring a lights and sirens.

While the Bannockburn Ambulance Station as converted to a 24-hour service in 2021, Golden Plains Shire mayor Cr Brett Cunningham said the municipality is advocating for greater ambulance in the region’s north.

“Council is aware of the ambulance response times experienced by residents in the Shire, and is committed to lobbying on behalf of our residents for increased emergency health services,” he said.

“Golden Plains Shire council has been advocating to our local members for improved emergency health services in the Shire, and supports a proposal to establish a new 24-hour Ambulance Victoria station to service townships in the northern part of Golden Plains.”

More than 1300 paramedics have been recruited to Ambulance Victoria in the past two years, and for less urgent cases in the region, uses the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department.

Member for Ripon, Martha Haylett, said the State Government will continue to support Victoria’s emergency healthcare efforts.

“The latest quarterly performance data shows that despite sustained demand, Victoria’s health system continues to show signs of improvement across a range of key areas,” she said.

“Victoria’s health system continues to stabilise following the COVID-19 pandemic, with the support of dedicated health care workers and our government’s $12 billion Pandemic Repair Plan.

“While we are seeing improvements across the board, we know there’s still more to be done, so the Andrews Labor Government will continue to deliver the staff, services and infrastructure Victorians need to get the care they deserve.”