Victorians with medical emergencies expect ambulance services to provide lifesaving treatment and transport promptly.
To help achieve this we have set an ambitious state-wide goal to achieve an ambulance response within 15 minutes for 85 per cent of Code 1 emergency incidents.
Ambulance action plan
The Ambulance action plan sets a clear agenda for the continued improvement in ambulance response times, while strengthening partnerships with other health services and local communities to ensure people can access appropriate care in a timely manner.
Saving 000 for emergencies
Through the Save Lives, Save 000 for Emergencies campaign, we’ve been working with the community to encourage people to call an ambulance only in an emergency, and to access more appropriate avenues of care for less urgent needs.
Refining Triple 000 operations
Ambulance Victoria has changed the manner in which it responds to some Triple Zero (000) calls, tripling the number of expert personnel in its referral service, to make sure patient assessments can be made quickly, safely and accurately. This helps to ensure that patients in life-threatening and time-critical emergencies are prioritised.
Actions and outcomes
The implementation of the $500 million investment in ambulance services is on-track and ongoing, with 22 new emergency ambulance services having commenced across the state. This is in addition to 12 new non-emergency patient transport services.
Action: In 2018-19, more paramedic Full Time Employees (FTE) will start operating from the super response centres. This brings a total of 210 paramedic FTE being deployed across the metropolitan area.
2018-19 will also see the deployment of 12 new paramedic community support coordinators in rural and regional Victoria.
Outcome: The Quarter 3, 2018-19 Code 1 performance results are the best seen in nine years. Access to ambulance services has improved for all Victorians, with clinical outcomes to cardiac arrests the best on record.
The $20 million, Vehicles and Equipment project (2015-16) is complete, with Ambulance Victoria taking possession of all five Complex Patient Ambulance Vehicles (CPAV).
Of the $40 million provided for rebuilding, upgrading and maintaining ambulance stations, two ambulance branches have been completed. Construction, planning and design for all other ambulance branches is progressing.
Action: Continue to plan, design and construct all 20 ambulance branches.
Outcome: Provide modern, fit-for-purpose accommodation for paramedics.
Two of the 16 branches are currently in construction. Planning and design for the other 14 ambulance stations are progressing, with a rolling program of individual station completions targeted to be achieved by June 2019.
Six super response centres are operational, with more than 80 paramedic FTE operating from these centres.
Action: Continue to plan, design and construct 16 ambulance stations.
Outcome: Provide modern, fit for purpose accommodation for paramedics, enabling reductions in ambulance response times.