‘Code red’: Three-hour wait for ambulance as cases surge in Victoria

Ambulances are under enormous pressure as surging Covid cases cause huge delays across Melbourne, but some people are making it worse.

Ambulances in Melbourne faced extreme demand overnight, with one in five calls to the emergency line not requiring an ambulance.

It came as Ambulance Victoria put out a “code red” warning for the metropolitan Melbourne area overnight, with extreme demand prompting delays because of rising Covid cases.

The Victorian Department of Health on Wednesday urged people to save triple-0 calls for emergencies.

Ambulance Victoria boss Libby Murphy said implementing a “code red” was not ideal but the people in greatest need were able to be cared for despite some reports of patients having to wait hours for a response.

She said staff were recalled and managers were in place at hospitals, but there was an unprecedented demand because of the Covid pandemic.

Extreme demand for ambulance services across Melbourne prompted major delays. Picture: David Geraghty

However, she said triple-0 was only for emergencies.

“What we are seeing is people contacting Ambulance Victoria to ask for advice on PCR testing sites, where they can obtain rapid antigen tests … looking for advice when they’re low acuity patients, so they’re not the most serious,” she said.

The “code red” warning was issued just after midnight after a high demand for services in the metropolitan region.

“It is likely there will be a delay in an ambulance reaching you,” the warning read. It lasted for more three hours before it was downgraded after 3am on Wednesday.

Ms Murphy added that about 500 staff were furloughed; however, a surge workforce, including SES and Lifesaving Victoria, was used to help keep up with demand.

The state’s Acting Premier Jacinta Allan also addressed the issue, saying it showed the “unprecedented challenges” the health system faced in the wake of the pandemic.

Acting Victorian Premier, Jacinta Allan said the health system faced ‘unprecedented challenges’ Picture: NCA NewsWire/ David Crosling

“Code red circumstances do happen from time to time both as a consequence of the pandemic but indeed other events, either natural disasters or other events that are going on in the community at that given time,” she said.

“But there’s no doubt that our health system – our community as a whole – is facing some really challenging and, indeed, unprecedented challenges as a consequence of the Omicron virus.”

Ambulance Victoria urged people to phone the government-run Nurse On Call system, which provides advice over the phone, or visit their local general practitioner if they were not suffering from an emergency.

require a lights and sirens urgent response. These patients are categorised as the sickest Victorians who require urgent lifesaving care.”

Code reds have previously been declared during the 2016 deadly thunderstorm asthma event and the Black Saturday bushfires.

The pandemic continues to stretch resources. Picture: Twitter/Ambulance Victoria

Ambulance Union acting general secretary Olga Bartasek told 3AW the situation had to be “dire” for a code red to be called.

However, some staff have been forced to isolate as a result of the surge in cases, prompting non-emergency transport workers having to handle serious matters.

“Certainly, code red is only ever reserved for … things like thunderstorm asthma or the bushfires,” Ms Bartasek said.

Three Victorian hospitals have since warned people not to visit emergency departments unless “absolutely necessary” due to the extreme pressure from rising positive cases.

Western Health, which manages Sunshine, Footscray and Williamstown hospitals in Melbourne’s west, said all three were suffering from “extreme pressure”.

“Please DO NOT attend the ED unless absolutely necessary,” the health service tweeted Monday.

“Those with mild Covid symptoms seeking PCR or rapid tests should NOT ATTEND. Thank you for your co-operation.”

Originally published as ‘Code red’: Three-hour wait for ambulance as cases surge in Victoria