Ambulance Victoria has doubled the capacity of its Triple Zero (000) service to free up emergency ambulances, prioritising the sickest patients to get the critical care they need.
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Paramedics attended 61.2 percent of Code 1 patients in the Ararat Local Government Area within 15 minutes - compared with 63.3 percent for the same period last year.
Grampians Regional Director Chris James said the latest performance data for the first quarter of 2021-22 showed the entire health system was under significant pressure.
"Here in Grampians, we are dealing with an extraordinary workload, which is also being experienced by crews right across the state," he said.
"We continue working closely with hospitals in the region to free up ambulances, getting them back out on the road as quickly as possible."
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In the Ararat Local Government Area, there was a 10.1 percent decrease in life-threatening Code 1 cases from the same time last year.
The average response time to Code 1 patients was 16 minutes and 49 seconds, this is an improvement from 16 minutes and 57 seconds in the quarter prior.
The data shows paramedics across Victoria were called to 80,459 Code 1 cases between July and September, a 17.2 per cent increase on the same time last year.
In the quarter, 73.5 percent of Code 1 cases were responded to within 15 minutes, with a state-wide average response time of 13 minutes and 39 seconds.
Across Victoria, more than 35,000 callers to 000 between July and September did not need an emergency ambulance.
Mr James said callers not needing emergency care were instead connected with paramedics and nurses in the Secondary Triage Service to more appropriate care to their needs.
"We've expanded our Secondary Triage Service with an additional 97 paramedics and nurses, effectively doubling the size of the referral service for less-urgent Triple Zero calls," he said.
"This vital service frees up ambulances for the sickest patients by connecting patients who do not need an emergency ambulance with alternative care.
"Our Secondary Triage Service is currently managing as many as 1000 cases a day - which are the service's busiest days ever.
"That results in 500 or more cases every day that are being matched to services that better suit their needs while also avoiding emergency dispatch.
"This means more emergency ambulances available on the road during this incredibly challenging time."
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Ambulance Victoria chief executive professor Tony Walker said this quarter's performance data were not surprising given the level of demand being experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The entire healthcare system across Australia is under sustained pressure and our paramedics and first responders are experiencing this first-hand," he said.
"Along with increasing numbers of COVID-19 positive patients, demand has quickly rebounded to levels prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the lockdowns.
"We are asking every Victorian to work with us by saving Triple Zero for emergencies by calling Nurse-On-Call (1300 60 60 24) for immediate health advice or seeing your GP or pharmacist early for advice or treatment.
"We suspect we will be facing these challenges due to COVID-19 until at least the end of the year and early into 2022."
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