Jaidyn Kennedy
Ambulance response times increased in Wyndham in three months to June, according to the latest figures released by Ambulance Victoria (AV).
Figures for the April-June quarter showed an increase in code one response times of 23 seconds compared to the last quarter, rising from 14:33 to 14:56 minutes.
Code one cases include heart attacks, strokes, car accidents, and cardiac arrests, and are required to be met within 15 minutes.
A code one case means paramedics turn on sirens and lights to get to an incident as soon as possible.
The data showed that paramedics and first responders faced the busiest quarter on record, responding to more than 102,000 Victorians– breaking the previous record of 100,238 Code 1 cases set in October to December 2022.
AV attributes the record demand to factors such as seasonal illnesses.
Ambulance Victoria metropolitan regional director Michael Georgiou said people could help ease pressure on paramedics in a variety of ways.
“If your matter is not an emergency, consider using alternative care options like Primary Priority Care Centres (PPCC) or the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED) and keep our highly skilled paramedics available for patients most in need,” he said.
“Staying up to date with your yearly flu and COVID-19 vaccinations helps protect you, the people around you, and makes a difference reducing demand on our paramedics during this busy time.“
Victorian Ambulance Union secretary Danny Hill said the results were unsurprising and that paramedics were frustrated with being held back.
“Paramedics are spending more time ramped at hospital, more time being sent to trivial cases, and less time responding to genuine emergency patients,” he said.
“The entire workforce has been screaming ‘iceberg right ahead’, and now the ship is sinking… patients are suffering.”
