Ambulance response times: Macedon Ranges records its best quarterly figures
THERE is increased hope for people who experience a sudden health shock in the Macedon Ranges with paramedics improving their code red response times to new benchmarks.
North West
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MACEDON Ranges paramedics are getting better than ever at arriving at Code 1 emergencies within 15 minutes.
Figures released for the June quarter reveal paramedics arrived at code 1 emergencies in the Macedon Ranges within 15 minutes 65.2 per cent of time, up from 63.4 per cent last year.
Effectively, the improvement means the average life-threatening callout is attended 54 seconds quicker in the Macedon Ranges.
Ambulance Services Minister Jill Hennessy visited Gisborne paramedics last Friday to celebrate the results.
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She said investment, a stronger organisational culture, increased training (from one to five days a year) and community education minimising the rate of non-urgent cases were all contributing to the improved operational performance.
Ambulance Victoria Gisborne manager Tim Fraser said he was proud his team has achieved the record result.
“We are the smallest unit in the Macedon Ranges but we have a growing community so we are really busy,” he said.
Mr Fraser said his team could improve its response times even more when or if it became a 24-hour station every day — at the moment it is so only from Thursday to Sunday.
It’s the nearest station to metropolitan Melbourne and only one in Macedon Ranges that is not open 24 hours every day.
“We have a team member which goes home in an ambulance and is on call, so if there are jobs those nights, it’s a 10-hour shift and whatever happens afterwards,” he said. “We have to meet a second member (in a sedan) before heading to callouts, so we could be more efficient manned the 24 hours.”
Mr Fraser said local paramedics welcomed the reforms by the State Government to combat violence against first responders.
“It does affect our work as it’s in our nature to want to help,” he said.
Code 1 callout averages are 11.12 minutes statewide, 38 seconds quicker than last year.
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