The Andrews Labor Government is building Tatura’s first ever ambulance station so paramedics can respond even quicker to local emergencies.
Premier Daniel Andrews, Minister for Ambulance Services Jill Hennessy and Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes today visited Tatura and met with Ambulance Victoria regional managers and paramedics from neighbouring towns to discuss plans for the new station.
Tatura will also receive funding for a new Ambulance Community Officer team with four full time paramedics and two new ambulance vehicles.
The announcement is part of a record $500 million investment over five years to employ 450 more paramedics, buy new vehicles and build new branches across the state.
This is the largest ever funding boost for Victoria’s ambulance services in a bold new plan to improve ambulance response times.
To house these additional resources, we will build a new state-of-the-art branch giving paramedics modern and safer facilities.
The new purpose-built station will feature a drive in-and-out garage bay for vehicles, rest and recline areas, training rooms, bedrooms, modern amenities and fully-fitted out kitchen.
This will make a huge difference to ambulance response times in Greater Shepparton. Ambulance performance in Greater Shepparton continues to improve, with the average Code 1 response time of 11:28 minutes in the September quarter an improvement on the 12:25 minute Code 1 response time a year earlier.
Since coming to Government, the Labor Government has been working hard every day to rebuild our ambulance system after four years of crisis and neglect under the Liberals.
Now, after two years of investing in and reforming our ambulance system, more ambulances are arriving at emergencies sooner with Code 1 average response times the quickest they have been in five years.
This funding is in on top of the $144 million provided in the Victorian Budget 2016/17, which included the $60 million Response Time Rescue Fund to improve ambulance response times.
Quote attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews
“We’re putting people first with the biggest ever investment of ambulance resources in Tatura.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Ambulance Services Jill Hennessy
“With this record investment we are giving paramedics in Greater Shepparton the support they need to do their job saving lives.”
Quote attributable to Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes
“With a new ambulance station on its way, more paramedics and two new vehicles, Tatura families can have confidence that in an emergency they will get the care and treatment they need, when they need it.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020