Despite a dramatic increase of life-threatening Code One ambulance response times during the COVID-19 Pandemic overall response times in Moira Shire have remained relatively stable.
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According to data released by Ambulance Victoria Moira LGA has experienced a 20 per cent increase in Code One cases from the previous quarter, with paramedics attending an extra 100 emergency incidents.
From October 1 to December 31, 2021, the average response time for code one ambulance callouts, including all life-threatening incidents, was 21 minutes and 27 seconds across 593 cases.
For the previous quarter (July 1 – September 30) the average time was 19 minutes and 4 seconds for a total of 493 cases.
Ambulance Victoria Hume Acting Regional Director Narelle Capp said the latest performance data shows the pandemic continues to place unprecedented and sustained pressure on the entire health system.
Paramedics attended 43.7 per cent of Code One patients in Moira LGA within 15 minutes – compared with 47.7 per cent in the previous quarter.
Response times were faster in the major population centre of Yarrawonga with ambulances reaching 62.4 per cent of Code One patients within 15 minutes, with an average response time of 17 minutes and 54 seconds – an improvement from 18 minutes and 16 seconds in the previous quarter.
Ms Capp said the increase in workload was nosurprise given the ongoing and extraordinary impact of the pandemic, right across the state and Australia.
“Paramedics are under increasing pressure due to fatigue and record workload, wearing PPE to all cases and furloughing due to COVID-19 exposure, reducing staff and ambulance availability,” Ms Capp said.
“Ambulance Victoria continues to invest in the growing Moira region.
“In the last few months, we’ve seen our Yarrawonga and Cobram ambulance branches converted from on-call to 24 hours services, meaning round-the-clock care for community members.
“These upgrades are already helping our paramedics better respond to the unprecedented demand, and also provides residents with better access to the very best emergency care, sooner.”
Ms Capp also encouraged all community members to save Triple Zero (000) for emergencies.
“While there are signs that infection rates are slowing, we remain very busy and continue to ask all community members to help us be freeing up resources for those most in need,” she said.
“There are lots of places to get health advice – that isn’t Triple Zero (000). If it is non-life-threatening, GPs and pharmacists can provide timely non-urgent care. Nurse-On-Call (1300 60 60 24) is a great service and offers free medical advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
Ambulance Victoria’s Response Times Performance Data also releases Code Two response times which are cases that are acute but non-time critical cases still requiring an ambulance.
For the previous quarter (October – December) the average response time was 34 minutes and 4 seconds across 463 cases.
From October 1 – December 31 the average time increased for a response of 46 minutes and 1 second for a total of 411 cases.
In Indigo Shire, response times for code one cases have again increased to 21 minutes and 50 seconds for 180 cases. In the last quarter responses were taking 20 minutes and 32 seconds for 170 cases.
For code two responses, the time has increased to 41 minutes and 42 seconds for 126 cases from 31 minutes and 27 seconds for 134 cases last quarter.
Nationals’ member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy said he hopes the Victorian Government’s newly announced $1.4 billion injection for healthcare omicron response is enough to reduce ambulance delays across regional Victoria.
“In early December last year, the National Party wrote to the Minister for Ambulance Services requesting steps to be taken immediately to improve the poor performance of our ambulance services,” Mr McCurdy said.
“At that time smaller regions like the Moira Shire had 40 per cent of their ambulance services arriving after 15 minutes or longer to code one callouts.
“It has now taken until February 4, 2022 for the Victorian Government to finally respond.
“Since December 2021, ambulance wait times have become considerably worse and our healthcare workers have continued to struggle.
“This decision by the Victorian Government should have been done sooner rather than later.
“One aim of the Victorian Government’s funding is to get ‘more paramedics on the road sooner’.
“The issue here is whether this funding has come too late for some of our paramedics who are struggling with the inundated stress and pressures of callouts within our regional areas.
“It is my hope that we not only support our current paramedics but focus on ensuring the $21 million state-wide triage services work effectively and efficiently to help ensure our paramedics are not called out to calls that are not in fact an emergency.
“I look forward to seeing how this funding operates through our regional healthcare sectors.
“I thank our paramedics, nurses and doctors for the incredible hard work and support they provide to our regions.”
Journalist