AMBULANCE response times in the Gannawarra Shire were one of the worst in the state during the first quarter of 2022-23.
Just 31 per cent of code 1 incidents were responded to within the target of 15 minutes between July 1 and September 30.
The response time target is within 15 minutes for 85 per cent of incidents.
The average response time in the Gannawarra local government area was 24 minutes, 18 seconds, with 163 call-outs reported.
The response time was worse in Loddon, with just 22 per cent of lights and siren cases responded to within 15 minutes, with an average time of 27 minutes.
Ambulance Victoria released the data before the government caretaker period, but wasn’t able to respond to questions following conventions being put in place in the lead-up to the state election.
A spokesperson referred the Gannawarra Times to a statement from Ambulance Victoria executive director of clinical operations Anthony Carlyon, who said demand for ambulance services remained at record levels for the first quarter of 2022-23 due to the continued impacts of COVID-19 and the flu.
“July to September was our busiest first quarter on record, and the second-busiest quarter ever,” Mr Carlyon said.
“Together with the previous quarter, this was by far the busiest and most challenging winter ever. Our paramedics and first responders worked tirelessly to keep delivering world-class care.
Mr Carlyon said before the COVID-19 pandemic, Ambulance Victoria recorded its best-ever response performance of 83.9 per cent of code 1 cases responded to within 15 minutes.
“We’ve since continued to respond to unprecedented demand,” he said.
“We’re working hard to relieve pressure across the health system with more paramedics on the road, more resources at 14 hospitals statewide to help offload patients faster and our MATS crews providing high-quality care to less-urgent cases.”
Member for Northern Victoria Tania Maxwell said the near half-billion-dollar investment surge in Ambulance Victoria and emergency despatch services was failing communities in almost every northern Victorian local government area.
The Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party member said Ambulance Victoria performance data for the July-September quarter showed the service on average got to a code 1 call-out patient inside its 15-minute target in just two of the 27 local council areas in her electorate.
“Compared with the June quarter, much the same data is showing up in every respect,” Ms Maxwell said.
“It isn’t safe. Performance has worsened in Loddon, Yarrriambiack, Murrindindi, Gannawarra, Alpine and Campaspe.
“Country people are only too well aware of the reality and tyranny of distance. But the hundreds of millions of dollars pumped into Ambulance Victoria, recruitment and more emergency despatchers in the past six months is not changing our communities’ expectations and experience for the better.”
