Michaela Meade
More paramedics will be on the road in Hume, following the launch of a new Medium Acuity Transport Service.
The service hit the roads last week, providing “world class” care for code two and three patients, with 22 vehicles and 165 dedicated staff.
The service will free up other resources to respond to the most urgent and time-critical emergency cases.
According to Ambulance Victoria, code two incidents are acute and time sensitive, but do not require a lights and sirens response. Code three incidents are those that require a non-urgent response.
Recent Ambulance Victoria data revealed the average response time for code two incidents in Hume was 37 minutes and 48 seconds for the June quarter.
According to the data, the average response time for code two incidents in Hume at June 2020 was 19 minutes and 36 seconds.
No data was available for code three incidents.
Fifteen crews will operate in Hume, Wyndham, Casey, Greater Dandenong, Knox, Kingston, Maroondah, and Mornington Peninsula each day as part of the Medium Acuity Transport Service.
Ambulance Services Minister Martin Foley said the new service would ensure Victorians continued to have access to the care they needed.
“Our paramedics are some of the hardest working in the country and this investment reinforces that we will always back them – and the extraordinary work they do,” Mr Foley said.
“We’re creating jobs while boosting the paramedic workforce to ensure Victorians receive world class care when they’re needed most – protecting our health system and saving lives.”
The service partners new paramedic recruits with experienced paramedics, and is the first stage of a $266 million investment from the 2021-22 state budget to improve patient care and drive down response times.
The investment is also set to deliver expanded secondary triage services, new paramedics, and additional support staff.
