News

Health | February 18, 2019

No urgency in ambulance response times under Labor

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy says despite improved ambulance response time claims by Daniel Andrews, targets are only being met in one of nine local government areas across the Lowan electorate.

The Andrews Labor Government has set a target of responding to 85% of Code One callouts within 15 minutes. Code One callouts are patients requiring urgent paramedic and hospital care and a ‘lights and sirens’ response.

Statistics released by Ambulance Victoria for October – December 2018 show the only local government area in Lowan to achieve Labor’s target was Horsham.

The West Wimmera and Yarriambiack LGAs remain amongst the slowest in the State for Code One callouts with average response times of 20.27 and 22.18 minutes respectively.

“The Andrews Labor Government is claiming their reforms are delivering record ambulance response time results for Victorians yet their own target is not being met in eight of our nine LGAs with many having average response times well above the State target,” Ms Kealy said.

“It doesn’t matter where you live, every minute counts when you need an ambulance.

“Our paramedics and ambulance community officers are working exceptionally hard and doing their very best in challenging circumstances.

“But western Victorian residents are not experiencing the same improvements in ambulance services as those in inner Melbourne and major regional centres.

“The urgent health needs of Lowan residents are just as important here as they are in Melbourne.

“Living in regional Victoria should not mean you have to wait longer for a life-saving ambulance.

“Lowan residents need and deserve to have these issues with the ambulance service addressed.”