The Andrews Labor Government is improving the quality of care for regional Victorians and delivering more resources for Ambulance Victoria, providing two paramedics on each shift for eight more ambulance branches.
Minister for Ambulance Services Mary-Anne Thomas today announced four more rural ambulance branches have this week moved from single to dual paramedic crewing in Murchison, Paynesville, Rupanyup and Yarram.
A further four branches in Beaufort, Charlton, Euroa and Foster will move from single to dual paramedic crewing in October.
With two paramedics rostered on 24 hours a day to respond to emergency calls, more residents will have better access to paramedics and their lifesaving skills than ever before.
ACOs will remain a critical part of the team, providing crucial back-up to paramedics, filling vacant shifts, transporting less-urgent patients to hospital and responding to cases when paramedics are with another patient.
The volunteer ACOs also play an important role in community engagement, teaching CPR and defibrillation skills and encouraging locals to become GoodSAM responders.
GoodSAM is a life-saving smartphone app that connects Victorians in cardiac arrest with responders who can provide hands-only CPR and defibrillation (if available) in the first critical minutes before paramedics arrive.
These upgrades are part of the Labor Government’s investment to deliver two paramedics on shifts in 15 locations across regional Victoria.
Since February 2020, seven ambulance branches in Terang, Camperdown, Rochester, St Arnaud, Avoca, Beechworth and Inglewood have all been upgraded to dual paramedic crewing.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Ambulance Services Mary-Anne Thomas
“We’re ensuring residents across Victoria get the right emergency care when they need it, by providing the extra resources paramedics deserve.”
“These local communities will now have the peace of mind that two paramedics will be on each shift to respond to critical emergencies.”
“We’re making record investments in our paramedics, so they have the facilities and resources they need to continue to do what they best – save lives.”
Reviewed 21 September 2022