Responses quicker as demand continues

GEELONG paramedics have faced their busiest winter on record.

Ambulance Victoria South West regional director Terry Marshall said performance times had stabilised despite the high demand.

“July to September was our busiest first quarter on record, and the second busiest quarter ever,” Mr Marshall said.

“Together with the previous quarter, this was by far the busiest and most challenging winter ever.”

Paramedics attended 70.1 per cent of Code 1 patients in Greater Geelong within 15 minutes, slightly faster than 69.9 per cent of patients in the previous quarter.

Response times were quicker in the city’s major population centre, with paramedics reaching 73.8 per cent of patients within 15 minutes.

Mr Marshall said paramedics continued to respond to unprecedented demand.

“We’re working hard to relieve pressure across the health system with more paramedics on the road, more resources at 14 hospitals statewide to help offload patients faster and our MATS crews providing highquality care to less-urgent cases,” he said.

“In their first year of operation, MATS crews attended a total of 28,144 cases statewide. This includes 2,115 cases in the Greater Geelong LGA.”

More than 700 new paramedics were recruited last year, the state’s single largest intake.

“Our record recruiting continues in 2022, with 567 new recruits already joining our ranks so far this year, which includes 49 more paramedics across the Barwon South West region,” Mr Marshall said.

“Meanwhile, the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department continues to help us avoid unnecessary trips to our busy hospitals and treat thousands of patients safely in their own homes.”