By Holly McGuinness
Demand for ambulances in Brimbank has once again risen this quarter as average ambulance response times have increased this quarter.
Brimbank code one calls have an average response time of 15:28, comparatively last quarter the average response to a code one call was 14:37.
Code one incidents that are considered a high priority and require urgent paramedic and hospital care, this is determined using information received at time of call.
Only 68.7% of these calls are reached in under fifteen minutes.
Code two calls that are still time sensitive but do not require lights and sirens have an average response time of 47:16 across Brimbank, a three minute increase from the quarter prior.
Response time is measured the time from a triple zero call is answered and registered by the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA), to when the ambulance arrives on scene.
These figures have been majorly concerning as they are consistent with Brimbank’s rising statistics across the state and are not expected to improve just yet.
Ambulance Victoria Barwon South West regional director Terry Marshall says, “There are no signs of demand slowing down through winter. COVID-19 continues to pose a high risk to Victorians and will do some for some time,” Mr Marshall said.
In this last quarter ranging from April to June has been the busiest period Ambulance Victoria has ever had, as they responded to 97,928 Code 1 cases, it’s the third quarter in a row the state wide average has risen.
The addition of more Ambulance Victoria Offload (AVOL) teams rapidly transferring patients to hospital care Ambulance Victoria is hoping this will add some reprieve to the health care system.
Sunshine hospital is to be a recipient of these additional specialist staff as previously reported by the Star Weekly.
