Grampians Regional Director Chris James said the latest performance data for the first quarter of 2021/22 shows the entire health system is under significant pressure and increasing demand.

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 per cent of Code 1 cases were responded to within 15 minutes, with a state-wide average response time of 13 minutes and 39 seconds.

IN OTHER NEWS:

In the Horsham Local Government Area, paramedics attended 82.8 per cent of Code 1 patients within 15 minutes - compared with 83.2 per cent for the same period a year earlier.

The average Code 1 response time was 11 minutes and 41 seconds.

Response times were faster in the major population centre of Horsham with ambulances reaching 91 per cent of Code 1 patients within 15 minutes with an average response time of 10 minutes and 4 seconds.

"Here in Grampians, we are dealing with an extraordinary workload, which is also being experienced by crews right across the state," Mr James 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."

Across Victoria, more than 35,000 callers to 000 between July and September did not need an emergency ambulance and were instead connected with paramedics and nurses in our Secondary Triage Service to more appropriate care pathways to meet their needs.

"We've expanded our Secondary Triage Service with an additional 97 paramedics and nurses (57 FTE) - effectively doubling the size of the referral service for less-urgent Triple Zero calls," Mr James 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 incredibility challenging time."

READ MORE:

Ambulance Victoria CEO Professor Tony Walker said this quarter's performance data were not surprising given the level of demand being experienced right across the state and Australia as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

"The entire healthcare system across Australia is under sustained pressure and our paramedics and first responders are experiencing this first-hand," Professor Walker 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.

"Performance also been impacted by time spent at busy hospitals transferring patients, wearing PPE to all cases and people who have delayed visiting their GP or specialist during lockdown now finding themselves more unwell and needing urgent care.

"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."

Professor Walker welcomed the state government's $40 million investment that will boost our capacity to transport suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients and patients with less serious conditions.

"This funding package addresses the challenges we have today related to performance, to workload and demand with more paramedics, additional non-emergency patient transport vehicles and more support to improve patient flow at emergency departments," Professor Walker said.

"The boost to non-emergency transport services will ensure patients get the right care at the right time, and that emergency ambulances are available for those needing time critical care.

"We suspect we will be facing these challenges due to COVID-19 until at least the end of the year and early into 2022."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: