Gippsland › Latest news › Danny O'Brien MP

Ambulance Victoria report reveals prolonged wait times and urgent action required in South Gippsland

Renewed calls for urgent action to enhance ambulance response times in Gippsland South due to increased wait times per a recent Ambulance Victoria report. The Nationals' Danny O'Brien urges government intervention to improve emergency services.

By news@gippsland - 10th August 2023 - Back to News

Calls for immediate action to improve ambulance response times across Gippsland South have been renewed on the back of a recent Ambulance Victoria report that shows wait times have increased compared with the same time last year. The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O'Brien said he raised his concerns over ambulance wait times in Parliament many times last year and is disappointed to see the life-threatening issue remains ongoing.

Ambulance Victoria's fourth quarter report indicated Wellington Shire residents experience more than 20 minute waits for code 1 call-outs, with only 50.4% meeting the 15-minute goal

Ambulance response concerns

Mr O'Brien said, "The fourth quarter performance report from Ambulance Victoria shows that Wellington Shire residents are waiting over 20 minutes on average for an ambulance to respond to a code 1 call-out with only 50.4 percent of ambulances arriving within the targeted 15-minute timeframe. In the South Gippsland Shire that percentage is even lower at 45.4 per cent."

A code 1 incident is a patient who requires urgent paramedic and hospital care and has a targeted response time of less than 15 minutes. Mr O'Brien said this is not an issue that can be allowed to go unchecked. "I am extremely grateful for the work of our local paramedics and hospital staff who are doing their best to deliver under enormous pressure and it is disappointing to see them continually let down by a Government that fails to improve the system."

"The people of Gippsland South deserve to have access to an ambulance when they need one. I am calling on the Andrews Labor Government to take immediate action to ensure our local ambulance services are able to meet their performance targets and keep our community safe," Mr O'Brien said.

Pictures from South Gippsland Shire Council Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com