The Andrews Labor Government has delivered on its promise to recruit 450 new paramedics to boost care and save lives across Victoria.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Jenny Mikakos this week met 20 new paramedic graduates, who have completed their university degree and will begin operational shifts from the beginning of March.
The Labor Government has now delivered 450 paramedics as part of its $500 million ambulance package – the largest ever investment in Victoria’s ambulance system.
The investment has helped rebuild Victoria’s ambulance system after the former Liberal Government went to war with paramedics, causing ambulance response times to become the worst on the Australian mainland.
The Labor Government has turned this around, with new data released today showing paramedics are arriving at the most critical emergencies faster than ever before.
Latest quarterly performance data showed paramedics reached 83.9 per cent of Code 1 patients within 15 minutes – an improvement of 2.5 percentage points on the same quarter a year earlier. This is despite the record number of Code 1 emergencies paramedics responded to during the quarter.
The average response time to Code 1 cases also improved, with ambulances arriving on scene 11 minutes and 12 seconds after call-out, 31 seconds faster than the same time last year.
In November the Labor Government announced it would build on its record investment with a further $109 million to help paramedics reach patients in life-threatening situations sooner.
The funding boost will recruit even more paramedics, convert 15 single-crew stations to dual crew stations, build new stations and get 23 new vehicles on the road.
As noted by Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos
“We said we’d recruit 450 paramedics to boost care and save lives across Victoria – and we’ve delivered.”
“Every second counts when your loved one is sick or injured – we know that our massive investment in Victoria’s ambulance system and our record response times are saving lives.”
“These new paramedics, and our ongoing investment in new stations, ambulances and equipment, will bring life-saving care to Victorians faster, when they need it most.”
