Premier

Best Ambulance Response In Eight Years Despite Horror Flu

31 October 2017

Paramedics are responding faster to life threatening medical emergencies despite massive demand from one of Victoria’s worst-ever flu seasons, with the best quarter one response times in eight years.

The latest performance data released today shows the Andrews Labor Government’s ambulance reforms and funding boosts are delivering record results for Victorians.

Ambulances across the state were getting to life threatening emergencies 35 seconds faster compared to last year, with 79.5 per cent of Code One callouts arriving within the target 15 minutes despite a horrific flu season.

This means Code One ambulances are now arriving one minute and 34 seconds faster compared to this quarter three years ago, when response times under the Liberals blew out to the worst September quarter on record.

This year’s flu season put significant pressure on our hospitals, with respiratory presentations to our emergency departments almost 20 per cent higher than for the same time last year.

A record 454,018 patients attended Victorian hospital emergency departments this quarter, putting unprecedented demand on our emergency services with an increase of 32,486 patients or 7.7 per cent compared to last year.

Despite this intense pressure, the data shows our hospitals are working more efficiently, with the most urgent cases being treated sooner.

Last quarter, the highest percentage of patients across all categories received their surgeries within benchmarks for timeliness for a September quarter. This meant median wait times for category three patients reduced by over six weeks since the same time four years ago.

The Government provided an additional $115 million for our hospitals to fight this year’s unprecedented flu season, to ensure more patients can receive the care they need when they need it, for the remainder of the year.

These record results stand in stark contrast to the former Liberal Government – who went to war with our paramedics and slashed $1 billion from our health system, leaving patients waiting too long for life saving care and languishing on waiting lists.

Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews

“These results are more than just numbers – they mean more lives saved and more people getting the care they need faster.”

“Thanks to our hardworking paramedics more ambulances are arriving at emergencies faster than ever – despite fighting what has been one of the worst flu seasons Victoria has ever experienced.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Jill Hennessy

“This shows our health system is working together – more efficiently – to get to more patients, in the recommended time, and deliver high quality, safe care.”

“Our reforms and investment means ambulances response times continued to improve despite big increases in call-outs.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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