Nearly a minute has been shaved off the average ambulance response time to code one emergencies in Brimbank, despite 600 more annual call-outs than two years ago.
The average response time in the 2015-16 financial year was 12.37 minutes, Ambulance Victoria’s annual report found, answering 11,058 calls for assistance.
The average response in 2013-14 took 13.29 minutes, prompted by 10,431 calls for help.
The percentage of emergencies responded to within 15 minutes also increased over the same period, from 73 per cent to 78.7 per cent, which Brimbank paramedic Morgan McCarthy says has been driven by improved rostering and a more efficient referral department.
“More people are being trained in the referral department catering to those calls,” Ms McCarthy said.
“Jobs are being more accurately coded for their level of emergency. More calls go through the system and are assessed for how urgent they are.
“It’s getting the right resources to the right places,” she said. “There are more flexible working hours available to paramedics, an increased availability to do shorter shifts, and changes to start times.”
Ms McCarthy said morale among paramedics had improved measurably as a result.
Ambulance Victoria Metro West regional director Anthony Carlyon said response times have improved “year on year”.
“However, we know that more needs to be done to meet our targets and community expectations,” Mr Carlyon said. “Average response times have improved by almost a minute [in Brimbank].
“This improvement comes despite increasing demand for our services – reflected in an additional 340 code one cases in 2015-16 than in the previous year.
“This improvement would not happen without the reforms we are undertaking. We’ve got new vehicles, new, upgraded branches and dispatch grid reform, which ensures patients get the most appropriate care.”
