New figures show that ambulance services in Casey are keeping critically ill and injured patients waiting too long.By Kelly Yates
CRITICALLY ill and injured patients are waiting longer for ambulance services in Casey than in other metropolitan regions.
New figures, obtained by Ambulance Employees Australia through freedom of information, show people living in Narre Warren wait an average 23 minutes and 43 seconds for an ambulance which is well above the Victorian benchmark of 15 minutes.
Seriously ill or injured people living in Lyndhurst wait for 17 minutes and 23 seconds, followed by Cranbourne (17.18), Hampton Park (16.29) and Berwick (15.33), according to the figures.
Ambulance Victoria defended the figures, saying that they showed a positive improvement compared to previous years.
An Ambulance Victoria spokesman said with regards to Berwick, last year the average response time was 17 minutes and 49 seconds.
“The current figures show a significant improvement which is down to the good work of the paramedics and resources in the area,” he said.
He said the constant growth in Casey was also a unique challenge for paramedics.
“We realise we can’t have an ambulance on every corner as it’s not realistic so we strive to put ambulances in strategic places,” he said.
General secretary of Ambulance Employees Australia Steve McGhie said the figures were proof that increasing pressure was being put on paramedics already stretched to the limit.
According to Mr McGhie, despite the State Government changing the target from 13 minutes to 15 minutes two years ago, they still weren’t reaching the benchmark.
He said a lack of resources was to blame. “The current resources are not matching the population growth in the City of Casey,” he said.
Mr McGhie said another concern was the clogged up hospitals in the area.
“Most of the paramedics will take patients to Casey Hospital or Dandenong Hospital yet they can’t offload them for several hours on occasions because the paramedics have to wait in line for an available bed or cubicle,” he said.
“We need more ambulance resources and more paramedics.”
For more details visit www.responsetime.org.au
