Ambulance Victoria fails to meet wait time targets, only two in three code one ambulances arriving on time

Victorians in urgent need of an ambulance are still not receiving help in the appropriate timeframe, with key benchmarks being missed despite slight improvements.

Victorians urgently in need of an ambulance are still facing delays as key benchmarks are missed, with the Allan government conceding more work must be done.

Fresh figures show first responders are still failing to meet a state-set target of responding to 85 per cent of critical Code 1 call-outs within 15 minutes, with only two in three code one ambulances arriving on time.

The new performance data, revealed on Thursday, shows average wait times for “lights and sirens” cases improved slightly, with 65.6 per cent meeting the 15-minute target for Code 1 call-outs – up from 64.9 per cent.

In a statement, Ambulance Victoria Executive Director Regional Operations Danielle North celebrated the figures, saying paramedics and first responders were responding to the most critical ‘Code 1’ emergencies on average 17 seconds faster than three months ago.

However, she noted that demand on ambulance crews had fallen by 4.5 per cent in the first three months of the year compared to the previous quarter.

“After three quarters in a row close to or above 100,000 Code 1 cases, the first quarter of 2025 brought some welcome relief for our crews who were called to 95,321 Code 1 emergencies,” she said.

The average wait time for Code 1 emergencies was 15 minutes and 25 seconds, down from 15 minutes and 42 seconds three months ago.

Victorians urgently in need of an ambulance are still facing delays as key benchmarks are missed, with the Allan government conceding more work must be done. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

Ms North pointed to new standards set by the government, more than 119 new paramedics, pulled in from across the country and New Zealand, and better triaging services.

“From January to March, 43,858 people who did not need an emergency ambulance were instead connected to more appropriate care by paramedics and nurses in Secondary Triage,” she said.

Wait times in the Victorian emergency department also dropped to their shortest “ever”, a state government statement announced on Thursday.

“The median wait time in Victoria’s emergency departments is down to 14 minutes – the lowest on record, and a five-minute improvement compared to before the pandemic,” it read.

However, the government conceded that overall response times needed improvement.

Health and Ambulance Services Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the data reflected “significant improvements across the system” amid “record demand”.

“From faster emergency care, shorter planned surgery wait times and improvements in Code One ambulance response times – our investments in the workforce and alternative urgent care options are delivering better outcomes for patients across Victoria,” she said.

Opposition health spokesperson Georgie Crozier, however, said the state government can “spin all they like but there are still massive issues in the system”.

“We’re still well under state targets,” she said.

“Ambulance ramping is still occurring, Code Oranges are still occurring and they’re still delays in the system, putting Victorians lives at risk.”