Ambulance Victoria records its best ever winter response time performance

October 28, 2018 | in News

Ambulance Victoria has recorded its best ever winter response time performance, helping deliver better outcomes to patients most in need.

From July to September 2018, paramedics reached 83.7 per cent of emergency patients within 15 minutes – 4.2 percentage points more than the same period last year.

The average Code 1 response also improved by more than a minute on the same quarter last year – from 12 minutes and 14 seconds to 11 minutes and 11 seconds.

On her 32nd birthday, Kate Hansen suffered a cardiac arrest in front of paramedics who had responded to her medical emergency at her Point Cook home. After 15 minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and 10 shocks from a defibrillator paramedics brought her back to life. They then spent over an hour stabilising her so they could transport her to hospital.

Kate, who is awaiting a kidney transplant, said she owed her life to the paramedics that refused to give up on her.

“Nobody wants to hear that they died,” Kate said.

“I was so overwhelmed that I was worked on for 90 minutes and that they didn’t give up on me,” Kate said.

“The paramedics who helped me that day were amazing, I’m so grateful to them and all the other first responders who’ve helped me when I’ve needed to call on them.”

Ambulance Victoria CEO Tony Walker said Kate’s story was truly inspiring.

“Our aim is to give every patient the best care, every time, and I’m thrilled that we were there for Kate when she needed us most,” Associate Professor Walker said.

“This is why we revised our clinical response model, to better assess Triple Zero calls and make ambulances more available to quickly respond to and care for our sickest patients.”

“We now have more paramedics and more ambulances on the road, and this is making a real difference to lives across the state.”

“I am so proud of the paramedics who cared for Kate, who did everything they possibly could and never gave up.”

“We strive to ensure every patient is cared for, safe and given effective treatment. Improved response times are leading to better patient experience and health outcomes.”