By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
Local waiting times for ambulances have increased under the Andrews government, according to the opposition.
Response times for non-critical code-two calls in Geelong were nearly two minutes longer, while code ones at Queenscliff increased by two minutes and eight seconds.
Code two times increased in 18 of 36 regional centres measured and code ones were worse in 13, the opposition said.
The figures reflected a state-wide trend in regional areas, said Liberal regional health parliamentary secretary Margaret Fitzherbert.
“Daniel Andrews has been in charge for well over a year now and needs to stop blaming others for ambulance response times getting worse in Geelong,” she said.
“If it was a crisis then, what is it now?”
South Barwon MP Andrew Katos said the Government had promised improved response times.
“This is another broken promise from the Andrews government. This is an issue of life or death,” Mr Katos said.
“Before the election Daniel Andrews told us there was an ambulance crisis, yet under him response times have gone backward in Geelong.
“Geelong patients are suffering because he has failed to invest in ambulance services despite all his promises.
“He’s all talk and no action.”
The Indy reported in October that Golden Plains Shire had one of Victoria’s worst code one response times at almost 22 minutes.
Ambulance Victoria has a target of 15 minutes for 85 per cent of code ones.
The service admitted that response times must improve and blamed record demand.
A spokesperson for Ambulance Services Minister Jill Hennessy said response times were improving in Geelong and state-wide.
“We’re starting to see evidence that the ambulance system is beginning to recover after four years of crisis and neglect under the previous Liberal Government,” she said.
“In Geelong, the most recent response time data shows the local average response time has improved by 11 seconds as compared to the same period in the last months of the previous Liberal government.
“This is a small but promising improvement.”
