By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
Code one ambulance response times in three of Geelong’s four local government areas continued to blow out, the latest performance figures showed.
Geelong’s average code one response time was 13 minutes and 28 seconds, up 10 seconds over last quarter and up 18 seconds over the quarter before that.
This was despite Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Jill Hennessy claiming in a media release that Geelong’s Code One average ambulance response times improved by seven seconds.
That was compared to a year earlier, but Geelong response times increased over the last three quarters.
Response times for Golden Plains continued to lag woefully behind, fluctuating between 21 minutes 19 seconds a year ago to 20 minutes 51 seconds for the last quarter.
Surf Coast also improved figures over a year ago, but like Geelong saw a 49 second increase from last quarter’s 17 minutes and seven seconds to 17 minutes 56 seconds.
Queenscliff was the only area to significantly improve times, from 21 minutes 26 seconds a year ago to 18 minutes 40 seconds for the last quarter.
Ms Hennessy said the State Government funded $144 million to fix the ambulance system.
“Our $144 million investment in our ambulance system will drive further improvements in response times, and give Victorians the confidence that in an emergency they will get the care they need, when they need it.”
She said the “funding boost” provided in this year’s budget included a $60 million Response Rescue Fund to provide better, faster responses.
Average code one response times for the March quarter state-wide improved by five seconds over last year, she said.
