United Voice News
Spiralling emergency response times shows ambulance system in deep crisis
A report today that Melbourne’s ambulances have missed their target of 15 minutes for Code 1 emergency cases is further evidence that the service is in deep crisis, the Ambulance Union said today.
The report in today's Herald Sun revealed that response times blew out to 16 minutes in July and 17 minutes in August.
In the article MAS Operations Manager Keith Young revealed that it would now be difficult to meet the target of 15 minutes for 2007-08.
Ambulance Employees Australia State Secretary Steve McGhie said today:
"The State Government changed the emergency response target earlier this year from 13 to 15 minutes, when it became clear MAS were not going to meet 13 minutes."
"Will the Government change the emergency response target again now - and expect critically ill Victorians to wait even longer for an ambulance?
"Despite posting a $22 million surplus last year, it is now clear MAS failed to invest in enough vehicles and staff to meet demand.
"Victorians should be extremely angry and concerned that response times are getting longer.
"Patients suffering a cardiac arrest require medical attention within 8 minutes to avoid brain injury or loss of life.
"Waiting 17 minutes is no help to these patients - you may as well send a hearse.
"This failure to resource the service properly puts paramedics under enormous pressure.
"Paramedics are already leaving the service in large numbers, but unless urgent action is taken many more will walk away."
