Ambulance response times improve as critical cases decline

PARAMEDICS and first responders across Victoria arrived at Code 1 emergencies an average of 17 seconds faster between January and March this year compared to the last three months of 2024, according to data released by Ambulance Victoria (AV).

Code 1 emergencies are classified as the highest priority calls requiring urgent paramedic and hospital care.

This includes situations where life is at risk, serious injury is present or there is a high risk of serious harm.

Examples include cardiac arrest, major trauma and serious road accidents.

Ambulance Victoria Executive Director Regional Operations Danielle North said after three quarters in a row close to or above 100,000 Code 1 cases, the first quarter of 2025 brought some relief for AV crews, who were called to only 95,321 critical incidents.

“The work our paramedics, doctors, nurses, first responders and support staff do every day in helping people in their time of greatest need is outstanding,” she said. “It is through them that we continue to lead the way in patient care including one of the best cardiac arrest survival rates in the world.

“However we know there is more work to do.

“We continue to work with our partners to ensure our paramedics and first responders are dispatched to the right patient at the right time.”

Ms North also encouraged Victorians to do their part to ensure AV’s highly skilled paramedics were available for those patients most in need.

“There are many options people can access when they need timely medical care and health advice but don’t need an emergency ambulance, including the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department and Urgent Care Centres,” she said.