AMBULANCES responding to serious incidents are taking up to half an hour to reach patients in some parts of rural Victoria, but Swan Hill’s paramedics have continued to respond within a commendable level.
Figures released by Labor last week revealed that only 42 of 149 rural branches met the 15-minute code one benchmark last year.
Swan Hill recorded the fourth lowest average regional time in the state — behind Mildura, Tongala and Mount Buller — with an average wait time of 11.5 minutes.
It is not the first time the local ambulance service has received glowing reviews.
State Government statistics in June showed paramedics at the Swan Hill branch were among the best in the state, and Victorian Health Minister David Davis told parliament in March that 92.9 per cent of ambulance responses from the Swan Hill urban centre fell within expected response times.
Ambulance Victoria Northern Mallee group manager Steve Fumberger said he was pleased that the region had some of the best response times in the state.
“It really is a statement about people who work at the branches as well as the system in place,” he said.
“We do very well because of the task force we’ve got but we’re always looking for ways to improve.”
