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Bendigo’s Nurses, Doctors And Paramedics Rise To The Challenge

01 August 2019

Victoria’s hospitals and paramedics are rising to the challenge of record demand caused by a busy flu season, the latest performance data shows.

Across the state, ambulances recorded the best ever response for the quarter, despite responding to more than 8,500 extra Code 1 emergency patients than the same quarter a year earlier.

In the City of Greater Bendigo, 80.6 per cent of Code 1 ambulances arrived within 15 minutes – equalling the high response rate of the March quarter.

Across the state, hospital emergency departments saw nearly 32,000 extra patients compared with the same quarter last year.

Bendigo Hospital treated 100 per cent of its Category 1 emergency patients immediately upon arrival at the hospital. The hospital also:

  • Operated on more than half of Category 1 urgent elective surgery patients within 14 days – well under the 30-day benchmark
  • Admitted 1285 patients off the elective surgery waiting list – 101 more than admitted off the list in the March quarter
  • Treated more than half of all elective surgery patients within 28 days – four days faster than the previous three months
  • Completed more than half of all transfers from ambulances to the ED within 22 minutes – well under the benchmark target of 40 minutes.

The busy flu season has put enormous strain on our nurses, doctors and paramedics. Already, there have been more than 40,000 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza across the state, including 10,000 children and more than 70 deaths.

That’s why we’re backing our health services with a record $12.2 billion investment, including a record $2.5 billion in the Victorian Budget 2019/20.

The Andrews Labor Government is stepping up its fight against the flu, making the flu vaccination compulsory for frontline staff in hospital wards.

The Government is working with health experts and hospitals on new rules that ensure nurses, doctors and other staff are fully vaccinated against a host of diseases, including the flu.

High-risk areas such as Intensive Care Units, Neonatal Intensive Care Units and cancer wards will all become areas staff must be vaccinated. Workers who refuse to be vaccinated will be redeployed to other parts of the hospital.

Quote attributable to Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos

“The flu season has hit hard and hit early, but our nurses, doctors and paramedics in Bendigo have done an exceptional job rising to the challenge.”

Quote attributable to Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan

“There’s no doubt about it – vaccinations are safe, effective and save lives. That’s why we’re taking action to make sure health workers are protected against dangerous diseases.”

Quote attributable to Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards

“The flu season has hit Victoria hard but our hospitals and paramedics have done an exceptional job rising to the challenge. It should give all Victorians confidence that they’re in the very best hands.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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