More paramedics to respond to demand

More paramedics are hitting the road across the Grampians Region as new data shows demand for emergency ambulances is rising sharply again for winter.

Ambulance Victoria Grampians Director Regional and Clinical Operations Peter Jenkins said the fourth quarter of 2022/23 was Ambulance Victoria’s third busiest on record, with ambulance responses impacted by a 5.5 per cent increase in demand compared to the previous quarter.

“Every winter we see demand rise, and this year is still challenging as COVID-19 and influenza spreads, and more staff are furloughed due to illness,” Mr Jenkins said.

“April to June saw ambulances called to 97,509 Code 1 cases state-wide, which is more than 5,000 additional ‘lights and sirens’ cases compared to the previous three months. This is a huge 29.3 per cent increase from 75,398 Code 1 cases five years ago before the pandemic hit.

“This winter we again urge you to help our paramedics, first responders and hospitals by saving Triple Zero (000) for emergencies and accessing alternative care options which can better meet your needs.”

From April to June, paramedics and first responders across Victoria responded to 61.7 per cent of Code 1 cases within the state-wide average target of 15 minutes. The state-wide average response time to Code 1 emergencies was 16 minutes and 4 seconds.

In the Grampians, response times have improved in the Ararat, Horsham and Northern Grampians Local Government Areas (LGAs). Compared to the same time last year, the average response time to Code 1 patients has improved from:
• 19 minutes and 6 seconds to 16 minutes and 59 seconds in the Ararat LGA, an improvement of two minutes and 7 seconds.
• 14 minutes to 12 minutes and 33 seconds in the Horsham LGA, an improvement of one minute and 27 seconds. In the major population centre of Horsham, paramedics responded to 87.2 per cent of Code 1 cases within the state-wide average target of 15 minutes – making it the best performing in the state.
• 18 minutes and 48 seconds to 16 minutes and 28 seconds in the Northern Grampians LGA, an improvement of two minutes and 20 seconds.

Between April and June state-wide, an average of nearly 88 staff were furloughed every day due to COVID-19. As a wave of COVID-19 spread during the quarter, the number of staff furloughed increased from a low of 54 on 1 April to a peak of 149 on 24 May.

On top of staff furlough and increasing winter demand, Ambulance Victoria was also impacted by the pressures felt across the entire emergency care system.

Mr Jenkins said to help respond to increasing demand and get more ambulances on the road and to patients quicker, Ambulance Victoria had recruited 118 new graduate paramedics over the past month, including 10 in the Grampians Region.

“This builds on our record recruitment of more than 1,300 paramedics over the past two years,” Mr Jenkins said.

“We welcome all our new graduate paramedics and wish them the best for long and rewarding careers at Ambulance Victoria.”