[Greens-Media] Ambulance report shows case times doubled in four years - Hartland

[Elizabeth.Ingham at parliament.vic.gov.au]

Greens MLC Colleen Hartland has called for urgent action on the 
Auditor-General's report on access to ambulance services in Victoria, 
tabled in Parliament today.

"The average case times have doubled in four years, from 25 minutes in 
January 2006 to about 50 minutes in July 2010.  This is basically because 
all the shiny new vehicles and highly trained staff are queueing outside 
emergency departments, waiting to hand over the patient."*

"Clearly it's time for the Health Minister and the Emergency Services 
Minister to start working together."

"The report also shows that the reliance on overtime to respond to service 
needs is masking the number of hours actually worked,** and there is a 
real problem with ambulance workers not getting enough rest breaks, 
particularly in rural regions.  This is affecting staff morale, and 
fatigue may also compromise safety."***

"None of this should be new to the government.  I first brought queueing 
and bypass issues to the government's attention in parliament in 2007 and 
I have raised ambulance issues 27 more times since then."

"Ambulance services save Victorian lives.  Any delay in fixing these 
problems is unacceptable," said Ms Hartland

For comment - Colleen Hartland - 0417 445 845
* Page 21   ** Page 19   *** Page 30
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Liz Ingham
Office of Colleen Hartland MLC
Western Metropolitan Region

A: 75 Victoria Street, Seddon 3011
P: 9689 6373
M: 0409 333 595
F: 9689 6227
E: elizabeth.ingham at parliament.vic.gov.au
W: http://mps.vic.greens.org.au

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Parliament of Victoria                                                                                                                    . 
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