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Coalition cuts ambulance membership fees in half

Sunday, 26 June 2011

Yearly Ambulance Victoria membership fees will be slashed in half from July 1, Minister for Health David Davis announced today.

Visiting Richmond Ambulance Station, Mr Davis said the Victorian Coalition Government had delivered on its pledge to make ambulance membership more affordable for all Victorians.

"From July 1, ambulance membership costs will drop from $150 to $75 a year for families and $75 to $37.50 a year for singles – that is just 20 cents a day for families and 10 cents a day for singles," Mr Davis said.

"This is similar to prices for ambulance membership fees in 1993 when membership cost $70 for families and $35 for singles."

Around two million Victorians are members of the Ambulance Membership Subscription Scheme.

Mr Davis said in the event of an emergency, Ambulance Victoria members do not have to pay transport costs which can exceed $900.

"To treat and transport patients in emergencies is an expensive exercise," Mr Davis said.

"Ambulances and the air ambulance fleet are fitted with state-of-the-art sophisticated medical equipment designed to ensure the best possible pre-hospital medical care for all Victorians.

"Victoria's paramedics are some of the best trained and most experienced paramedics in Australia.

"With 100 per cent cover, and 50 per cent off, there is now simply no reason to risk being caught without Ambulance Victoria membership."

Mr Davis said the cut in membership fee will encourage even more Victorians to join, ensuring people can access ambulance services whenever required without concern for cost.

"We know Victorian families are experiencing rising living costs and deserve cheaper access to our vital ambulance services," Mr Davis said.

"That is why the Government delivered $241.9 million over four years to halve the cost of Ambulance Victoria membership."

Mr Davis said the Government is also delivering on its $151 million commitment to employ 340 additional ambulance staff over the next five years, increasing paramedic numbers beyond 3000 for the first time in Victorian history.

"We are delivering on commitments to upgrade ambulance stations and establish Mobile Intensive Care single responder units in 10 major rural towns," Mr Davis said.

"To ensure responsiveness within inner Melbourne, a new motorcycle paramedic unit will also be established.

"We look forward to working with Ambulance Victoria and the community in providing the best clinical care we can to all Victorians and transporting those in need to specialist medical services."

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