Victoria’s specialist mobile intensive care ambulance (MICA) service has plunged into crisis with revelations of a new operating model that will cut single responder units and reduce vital resources across Victoria.
This comes as MICA responders, who are trained for complex and serious incidents, face low morale, burnout, and are regularly being called out to fill gaps in the regular ambulance service.
Despite ongoing ambulance delays, the Allan Government is now considering cutting back MICA services further after the most recent annual report showed the number of MICA responders had fallen to 581.
The move has been labelled as “absolutely dangerous” by Victoria’s Ambulance Union, which agreed the service was in a crisis.
Shadow Minister for Health, Georgie Crozier, said: “Instead of cutting vital MICA resources, the Allan Government should be increasing services. Labor is cutting services and resources because the state is broke.
“Not having MICA units available is putting lives at risk and is a real-life consequence of Labor’s inability to manage Victoria’s finances.
“Under Labor Victoria is broke and Victorians are paying the price for the Allan Government’s blowouts, waste, record taxes and debt.”
