Hume recorded one of the highest number of code one ambulance callouts in the state in the three months to June 30, new Ambulance Victoria data reveals.
Paramedics responded 4706 code one callouts – those requiring urgent paramedic and hospital care and use lights and siren– in Hume between April and June.
Only Greater Geelong (4991) and Casey (4983) recorded more code one calls during that period.
The number of code one calls responded to in Hume rose from 4513 between January and March, and coincided with a four-second increase in response times.
Ambulance Victoria data shows paramedics’ average code one response time in Hume was 16:04 minutes between April and June, up from 6 minutes.
Paramedics responded to 59.2 per cent of code one calls within the state government-set benchmark of 15 minutes or less, down from 60.1 per cent during the previous three months.
In Whittlesea, code one response times improved during the three months to June 30, while the number of callouts increased.
The average response time fell to 14:49 minutes between April and June, compared to 15:18 minutes during the previous three months.
Paramedics responded to 3413 code one calls in Whittlesea between April and June, up from 3217 between January and March.
Of the code one callouts in Whittlesea, paramedics were able to respond to 66.5 per cent within 15 minutes or less, up from 65.8 per cent in the previous quarter.
Ambulance Victorian regional operations acting executive director Michael Georgiou said every day, there are more than 500 calls to triple-0 that don’t need an emergency ambulance.
“There are many options people can access when they need timely medical care and health advice but don’t need an emergency ambulance, including the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department and Urgent Care Clinics,” he said.
Ambulance Victoria said it is working closely with hospitals, emergency services and government partners to keep ambulances on the road and patients moving through the system.
“We’re grateful to our hospital partners for their efforts– it’s helping us reach more patients, faster,” Mr Georgiou said.
