Emergency ambulance response times continue to improve in macedon ranges

Ambulances arrived at the scene of emergencies across the Macedon Ranges Shire almost one minute faster than this time last year.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Jenny Mikakos released the March quarter of the Victorian Health and Human Services and Ambulance Victoria Performance Data which shows 68.6 per cent of the Shire’s Code 1 ambulances arrived within 15 minutes, more than the 63.7 per cent a year prior.

State-wide results show 84.2 per cent of ambulances arrived within the benchmark 15 minutes – an improvement on 83 per cent a year prior. In 2014 when the Liberals were in power, only 73.2 per cent arrived within 15 minutes – and ambulance response times blew out to the worst on the mainland.

Response times across the Macedon Ranges continue to improve, with ambulances arriving in an average 13 minutes and 21 seconds, an improvement on the 14:20 arrival time a year prior.

Ambulances are also turning out to more emergencies. Some 72,318 Code 1 callouts were made for the quarter – 5705 more compared with the same period 12 months prior, and the third highest recorded since Ambulance Victoria’s clinical response model reforms, which free up ambulances for emergencies.

In the Macedon Ranges, ambulances responded to 487 Code 1 calls, up on the 430 call-outs in the March quarter 2018.

The improvements are thanks to the Labor Government’s $500 million investment in ambulance services, including an additional 450 paramedics, extra vehicles, new resources and new and upgraded ambulance branches.

Our dedicated paramedics provide life-saving treatment to those who need it most when an emergency strikes. They deserve our support so they can do what they do best.

The quarterly data also shows our public health services are providing world-class care, despite Canberra’s $305 million claw back from Victoria’s hospitals – cuts that are hurting patients, nurses and doctors across the state.

Quotes attributable to Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas:
"We can thank our local hard-working paramedics, doctors, nurses and other health professionals for continuing to improve our health and emergency services."

"Our local ambulance services are transporting more urgent cases and our hospitals are treating more patients despite cuts from Canberra – cuts that are hurting patients, nurses and doctors across the state."