The Nationals’ Member for Eastern Victoria, Melina Bath, has called on the Carroll Government in state parliament to explain why ambulance response times in eastern Victoria continue to deteriorate under Labor.
Ms Bath raised concerns that every local government area was recording longer wait times for emergency responses than it was 12 years ago.
“Despite false claims from Labor the ambulance crisis has been fixed, the reality for regional Victorians is the opposite,” Ms Bath said.
“Across Cardinia, Baw Baw, Latrobe, South Gippsland, Bass Coast, East Gippsland and Wellington, ambulance response times have gone backwards.”
South Gippsland recorded the sharpest decline, with the proportion of Code 1 emergencies responded to within 15 minutes falling from 68.1 per cent to 45.3 per cent, a drop of 22.8 percentage points.
Cardinia’s performance has declined by 19.2 percent, Bass Coast by 17.8 percent while Latrobe has fallen by 10.1 percent.
Ms Bath said there is particular concern that residents in East Gippsland and Wellington LGAs are now waiting more than 19 minutes on average for a Code 1 ambulance response.
“Every minute an ambulance is delayed is another minute a regional Victorian is waiting for lifesaving treatment, reducing the chance of the best possible outcome in a medical emergency,” said Ms Bath.
“These figures are not a reflection of our hardworking paramedics, who continue to provide exceptional care under immense pressure – they’re a reflection of Labor’s neglect, mismanagement and failure to properly plan for growing demand.
“Worsening response times, ongoing workforce pressures, ramping and increasing demand demonstrate the ambulance crisis is increasing under Labor.
“When someone calls Triple Zero in an emergency, they expect help to arrive quickly.
“Every Victorian who calls Triple Zero in an emergency deserves the confidence that an ambulance will arrive promptly, regardless of postcode.
“After 12 years in government, Labor must explain why ambulance performance continues to decline and what action it will take to restore timely emergency care for regional communities.
