New paramedics are being fast-tracked and hitting the road across the region as the pandemic continues to break records for ambulance demand.
The latest ambulance response time data showed Geelong paramedics had their busiest quarter ever.
They responded to 4410 code one lights and sirens emergency call outs in the City of Greater Geelong over the three-month period – an increase of almost seven per cent on the previous quarter.
Across the quarter, paramedics responded to 72 per cent of code one calls within the benchmark of 15 minutes, which was 2.8 per cent less than the previous three months.
The average response time was also 42 seconds slower, at 13 minutes at 55 seconds.
Response times were faster within Geelong with ambulances reaching 75.8 per cent of code one patients within 15 minutes with an average response time of 13 minutes and 20 seconds.
In the Drysdale-Clifton Springs population centre, paramedics reached 74.1 per cent of code one patients within 15 minutes with an average response time of 13 minutes and 15 seconds, while in Leopold it was 77.3 per cent within 15 minutes and an average of 12 minutes and six seconds.
Ambulance Victoria acting chief executive Libby Murphy said ambulance responses had been impacted by the Omicron variant, which affected staff availability and increased demand as restrictions were lifted.
“As part of a health system and our broader society, paramedics are not immune to COVID-19, with a peak of more than 500 paramedics sick, symptomatic or isolating in January,” she said.
“Today, we still have about 150 staff in isolation most days.”
Barwon South West regional director Terry Marshall added paramedics were still seeing emergency calls that didn’t require an ambulance.
“We remain very busy, attending around 1800 to 2000 cases a day across Victoria, and ask community members to help us by saving Triple Zero (000) for emergencies,” he said.
“While ambulances are always provided to patients when required, about one in five calls to Triple Zero (000) do not need an emergency ambulance response.”
Between January and March, a total of 45,382 callers statewide to Triple Zero (000) did not need an emergency ambulance and were instead connected by paramedics and nurses in the Secondary Triage Service to more appropriate care.
Mr Marshall said to address the demand for ambulances, Ambulance Victoria had recruited 700 paramedics in 2021 – its single largest annual recruitment ever.
“This recruitment drive continues with 174 paramedics already on board so far this year to help get more ambulances on the road and to patients quicker,” Mr Marshall said.
“And the Victorian Government’s $35 million boost early this year has fast-tracked the recruitment of another 120 paramedics, who will all start their inductions with Ambulance Victoria in May.
Of the 57 new graduate paramedics starting on May 2, four will go to branches in the Barwon South West region, including Ocean Grove, Winchelsea and Torquay.
