United Voice News
New website puts ambulance response times online
Melbournians can now find out online how long people in their suburb are waiting for ambulances in an emergency.
Metropolitan Ambulance Service emergency response time data shows at least half of Melbourne’s suburbs are failing to meet the State Government’s benchmark of 15 minutes for 90 percent of all cases.
One in ten people in the Frankston area are waiting 19 minutes or more for an ambulance to arrive in an emergency. In Melbourne’s northern growth corridor around Craigieburn one in ten are waiting 18 minutes or more.
The website is part of a new community campaign, to be launched in Melbourne today by Ambulance Employees Australia, which will fight for improved ambulance services and funding across Victoria.
AEA State Secretary Steve McGhie said the ‘Response Time! Our Ambos. Our Lives.’ campaign will use online and grassroots campaigning to demand a faster, more reliable ambulance service.
McGhie said that while ambulance caseload increased by almost ten percent last year funding went backwards by almost six percent.
“Our ambulance service used to be considered among world’s best — it isn’t anymore. And it won’t be unless our community fights for greater funding and more paramedics.”
“Across Melbourne emergency response times continue to blow out.
“Our intensive care ambulance service is collapsing. Local MICA services were cancelled or ran only a limited service 130 times in a six month period recently, putting the lives of critically ill patients at risk.
“Meanwhile, paramedic fatigue is at epidemic levels. Our recent survey found that ambos are saying they’ve been so exhausted they’ve fallen asleep driving. Others have made errors with patient treatment and medication.
“We desperately need at least 350 more paramedics to fix this crisis. That will help us achieve a faster, more reliable ambulance service and reduce paramedic fatigue.
“We also need to make sure we have wages and conditions that will ensure we can attract and retain these paramedics.”
21 April 2008
