Response times quicker

Geelong ambulance response times for life-threatening emergencies have improved by almost half a minute during the past year, according to the State Government.
The improved response times were despite “record demand” for ambulances around Victoria, said Geelong MP Christine Couzens.
“Geelong patients experiencing life-threatening conditions can have every confidence they will receive faster responses from paramedics today than they did under the crisis-ridden Liberals.”
Ambulances responded to Code One (lights and sirens) emergencies in an average of 12.44 minutes in the September quarter, compared to 13.10 the same time last year.
Ambulances attended 76.6 per cent of calls within the benchmark 15 minutes – up from 74.7 last year.
But opposition MP Simon Ramsay pointed out Code One call outs had significantly decreased in the September quarter to 3,298, down 517 on last year’s 3,815.
“Christine Couzens refers to ‘growing demand’ and ‘record demand’,” the Western Victoria MP said.
“But today’s figures show a substantial decrease in the number of people getting a Code One response when they ring for an ambulance in Greater Geelong.”
Mr Ramsay said the Andrews Government had failed to deliver major improvements to ambulance times in the last two years.
“What Daniel Andrews won’t tell you is that ambulance response times are actually worse in 30 LGAs across the state, leaving many regional Victorians waiting longer for ambulances.”
The Government attacked the previous coalition government by highlighting response times in its last full year.
Geelong ambulances attended 65.81 per cent of calls in the benchmark of 15 minutes and had an average response time of 14.40 minutes in the 2013 September quarter, a government statement said.