An 18 per cent increase in Code 1 caseloads for Ambulance Victoria in Greater Shepparton from the same time last year has led to a drop in Code 1 emergency response times.
The data was contained in statewide figures that show records for ambulance demand have been broken three reporting periods in a row, as COVID-19 continues to put unprecedented pressure on the health system.
Paramedics attended 66.8 per cent of Code 1 patients in the Greater Shepparton LGA within 15 minutes — compared with 77 per cent at the the same time last year.
The average response time to Code 1 patients was 15 minutes and 22 seconds.
Response times were faster in the Shepparton-Mooroopna major population centre, with paramedics reaching 75.8 per cent of Code 1 patients within 15 minutes, while the average time was 14 minutes and 19 seconds.
Ambulance Victoria Hume regional director Narelle Capp said data for the fourth quarter of 2021-22 showed our response continues to be impacted by soaring demand, the wide spread of the Omicron variant, sicker patients who have deferred care, and staff furloughing.
“There are no signs of demand slowing down through winter,’’ Ms Capp said.
“COVID-19 continues to pose a high risk to Victorians and will do so for some time.”
Across the state, ambulances were called to 97,928 Code 1 cases from April to June this year — making this quarter the busiest in Ambulance Victoria’s history and third consecutive record-breaking quarter.
That is a massive 16 per cent or 13,487 more ‘lights and sirens’ cases compared to this time last year and 4694 more than the previous quarter.
Ms Capp said Ambulance Victoria was working hard to relieve pressure in the system with more paramedics on the road and more Ambulance Victoria Offload teams to rapidly transfer patients to hospital care.
“These teams, established as part of our pandemic response efforts to improve patient flow at the ambulance and hospital interface, are now being expanded to 14 public hospitals, including Goulburn Valley Health in Shepparton,” Ms Capp said.
“They are made up of paramedics and nurses who receive handover of suitable patients after triage, allowing ambulance crews to get back on the road faster.
Ambulance Victoria interim chief executive officer Felicity Topp said for less urgent cases, the size of a Secondary Triage Service and use of the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department to help avoid unnecessary trips to hospitals has tripled.
Between April and June Ambulance Victoria crews referred 8144 people to the VVED, 74 per cent of which did not require transport to hospital.
“When paramedics arrive at a patient’s home, if the patient does not appear to require immediate transport to the ED, paramedics are able to arrange a video consultation with an emergency physician or nurse practitioner to determine if care can be safely and effectively provided in the home without the need for transport to hospital,” Ms Topp said.
“GPs and pharmacists can provide non-urgent care and Nurse-On-Call (1300 606 024) offers free medical advice 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, if your condition is not life-threatening.