Premier

Ambulance And Elective Surgery Records Smashed

30 July 2017

Code 1 ambulance response times hit 81 per cent in the last quarter – an improvement of six percentage points on the same period last year and the best June quarter result on record.

The latest performance data released today shows the Andrews Labor Government’s elective surgery blitz has also delivered, with an end of year waitlist of 36,839 - a phenomenal result given two additional health services have been added to the list last year.

If these services had not been added, our waitlist would be the lowest on record and 1,747 lower than last year’s record result.

Despite record demand for emergency, elective surgery and ambulance services, more Victorians are receiving faster care across the system.

Over the past year, 89 per cent of Victorians received their elective surgery within the clinically recommended time. This figure has been steadily increasing since we took office and is the best result on record. When the Liberals were last in power, this number was 8 percentage points lower.

The early onset of the flu season has increased demand on emergency departments, with a 39 per cent increase in patients presenting with influenza compared to the same period last year. Notwithstanding this, a record percentage of people experienced a length of stay in emergency of less than four hours for a June quarter.

Significant improvements for patients across a range of measures have also been achieved, with Ambulance Victoria recording its best ever annual performance result for stroke patients.

In the last 12 months, 94.2 per cent of patients have been transported to a stroke unit within 60 minutes, up 5.3 per cent on the previous year. This equates to an additional 300 patients being treated and taken to a specialist facility in time for clot dissolving drugs to be administered.

Improved performance is a result of reforms over the past 18 months and the Labor Government's $500 million plan to improve ambulance responses times, employ 450 paramedics, buy new vehicles and build more ambulance stations across the state to meet the growing needs of the Victorian community.

Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews

“We said we would end the ambulance crisis, and with more patients now getting the life-saving care they need in record time that’s exactly what we’ve done.”

“Despite record demand on our health system we’re performing more surgeries and treating and admitting more patients than ever before.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Jill Hennessy

“Our paramedics are getting to patients faster - when only minutes stand between life or death for some of our patients.”

“Our elective surgery blitz is making a real difference with more patients coming off waiting lists and into the operating theatre sooner.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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