Ambulance demand soars to a record high

Code 1 ambulance cases in Bass Coast between October and December 2022 increased by 16.7 per cent, compared to the previous year.

Figures released by Ambulance Victoria this month showed October to December was the busiest quarter in Ambulance Victoria’s history with paramedics called to a record 100,234 Code 1 cases across the state.

Figures in Bass Coast mirrored a state-wide increase, which Ambulance Victoria said show the massive strain Covid continued to place on the entire health system.

Ambulance Victoria Gippsland Regional Director Jerome Peyton said in Bass Coast there was a 16.7 per cent increase in Code 1 caseload from the same time in 2021.

Paramedics attended 58.6 per cent of Code 1 patients in Bass Coast within 15 minutes – an improvement compared with 57.5 per cent the same time in 2021.

The average response time to Code 1 patients was 16 minutes and 57 seconds – an improvement from 17 minutes and 03 seconds a year earlier.

Wonthaggi had the fastest response time, with 78.7 per cent of Code 1 patients reached within 15 minutes.

Mr Peyton said paramedics have responded to more than 100,000 seriously ill people in a three-month period for the first time ever.

Ambulance responses for the second quarter of 2022/23 were impacted by soaring demand, sicker patients, and staff furloughing due to COVID-19.

“In the face of this record demand and the impacts of COVID-19 on our lives, our dedicated paramedics in the Gippsland Region continue to do an amazing job delivering world-class care to our patients.”

The service responded to the increased demand while battling staff absences due to Covid.

During the quarter, an average of 112 staff a day were furloughed across the state due to COVID-19. As a new wave of COVID-19 spread, the number of staff furloughed increased from a low of 31 on October 1 to a peak of 202 on December 20.

Mr Peyton said paramedics were seeing a record proportion of sicker patients who needed the most serious, time-critical Code 1 response.

“A year ago, life-threatening Code 1 cases made up 42 per cent of the total Triple Zero (000) demand – which has now risen to 46 per cent in this quarter,” Mr Peyton said.

“I encourage all Victorians to take care of themselves and keep regular check-ups with your GP or specialist before your condition worsens and you need to call for our lifesaving care.”

Ambulance Victoria Executive Director Clinical Operations Anthony Carlyon asked the community to help save Triple Zero (000) for emergencies.

“From October to December, 41,440 callers to Triple Zero (000) did not need an emergency ambulance and were instead connected by paramedics and nurses in our Secondary Triage team to more appropriate care,” Mr Carlyon said. 

“While ambulances are always provided to patients when required, about one in five calls to Triple Zero (000) do not need an emergency ambulance response.”

Mr Carlyon said more than 1300 paramedics had been recruited over the past two years, and the Secondary Triage team had tripled in size.

Paramedics have referred over 23,000 cases to the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED) since October 2021 to help avoid unnecessary trips to busy hospitals.

Medium Acuity Transport Service (MATS) crews are dedicated for less-urgent calls are freeing up more ambulances to respond to the most critically ill patients.