AMBULANCE Victoria response times in Swan Hill have dropped slightly as paramedics face an increase in life-threatening Code 1 cases.
Ambulance Victoria Loddon Mallee acting regional director Trevor Weston said the latest performance data showed the pandemic continues to place unprecedented and sustained pressure on the entire health system.
Paramedics attended 64.9 per cent of Code 1 patients in the Swan Hill local government area within 15 minutes – compared with 70 per cent for the same period in 2020 – with an average response time to Code 1 patients of 16.20 minutes.
Response times were faster and improving in the major population centre of Swan Hill with ambulances reaching 84.8 per cent of Code 1 patients within 15 minutes – an improvement compared with 83.6 per cent for the same period in 2020. The average response time was 11.32 minutes.
Code 1 incidents require urgent paramedic and hospital care based on information at the time of call.
Mr Weston urged Mallee residents to assist paramedics by saving 000 for emergencies.
“Every call for assistance that isn’t an emergency puts significant strain on our crews to reach those who need us the most,” he said.
“There are lots of places to get health advice that isn’t 000.
“If it is non-life-threatening, GPs and pharmacists can provide timely non-urgent care.”
Mr Weston said Nurse-On-Call (1300 60 60 24) also offered free medical advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“We are now seeing a significant increase in calls from people with COVID-19 symptoms, many who do not require emergency care,” he said.
“Most people with COVID-19 will not need an ambulance, as minor COVID-19 symptoms can be managed at home.”
However, he said if people developed severe symptoms, they should call 000 immediately.
Ambulance Victoria has recruited 700 paramedics in the past year – the single largest annual recruitment ever – including an additional 56 on-road paramedics in rural Victoria to help service the additional demand.
Ambulance Victoria chief executive officer Professor Tony Walker said paramedics were under increasing pressure due to fatigue and record workload, wearing PPE to all cases and furloughing due to COVID-19 exposure, reducing staff and ambulance availability.
Prof Walker said Ambulance Victoria was grateful to have the support of partner agencies to ensure it could continue providing the best care to the record numbers of Victorians in need.
He said they were made up of hundreds of volunteers from agencies including SES, St John Ambulance, Life Saving Victoria, CFA and Red Cross, as well as a number of final-year paramedic students.
