Mernda paramedics to open doors to long awaited branch

Almost seven months after its construction, the Mernda ambulance branch is finally operational. This month, you can get a behind-the-scenes look.

The Mernda ambulance branch.

You won’t need to be the walking wounded to sneak a peek inside the new $4.1 million Mernda ambulance branch.

Paramedics will open the doors to the long awaited 24-hour branch on July 28.

The open day includes first aid lessons, a free sausage sizzle, display of historic ambulances and face painting.

Mernda ambulance branch senior team manager Stephen Moody said in an emergency “every second counts”.

“With around the clock coverage in Mernda, our patients can have peace of mind that we will be there when they need us,” he said.

Ambulance response times in Whittlesea have improved 1.1 per cent in the past year, with paramedics reaching code 1 emergencies within an average of 11 minutes and 16 seconds.

The new branch includes training facilities, rest and recline rooms, four ambulance bays and a staff car park.

The branch became operational about a month ago, however construction of it was completed last October.

In February Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos and developer RCL Group were tight-lipped about what had caused the delay in the opening of the branch.

Esha, six, was treated by Mernda ambulance branch paramedics.

Paramedics due to work at the Mernda branch had been staffed at Diamond Valley.

Manjit and Navdeep Dhesi from Mernda said their daughter Esha, six, was one of the first patients to be treated by paramedics working from the Mernda branch.

Esha fractured her arm and wrist when she fell from monkey bars on her sixth birthday, Mr Dhesi said.

“The paramedics took Esha to hospital and then returned later on with the gift of a cupcake and a happy birthday song, he said.

The open day at 1411 Plenty Rd will run from noon to 3pm.