- Published:
- Wednesday 10 April 2019
Diamond Creek paramedics now have the safe and modern home base they deserve, so that they can provide world-class care when an emergency strikes, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.
Minister for Ambulance Services Jenny Mikakos today opened the cutting-edge ambulance branch in Diamond Creek, which will provide round-the-clock emergency care.
Previously paramedics were housed in an emergency services complex with police and firefighters – there was no room to expand to meet the needs of today’s community.
But with their bigger and more modern facility, the Diamond Creek ambulance team can double their current coverage from only peak periods to 24-hours-a-day – so that help is always just around the corner.
The new branch features a spacious garage for vehicles, rest and recline areas, a training room, a kitchen and space for hard-working paramedics to have a much-deserved rest.
The Labor Government has fixed the ambulance crisis that the Liberals created, and delivered 450 paramedics as part of our $500 million ambulance package – the largest ever investment in Victoria’s ambulance system.
Thanks to our investments, ambulances are arriving at the scene of code one emergencies faster than ever before. The latest quarterly performance data showed paramedics reached 83.9 per cent of Code One patients within 15 minutes – an improvement of 2.5 per cent on the same quarter a year earlier.
In the Nillumbik Shire, response times have improved with 69.1 per cent of ambulances now arriving within 15 minutes for Code 1 emergencies, up from 62.3 per cent a year ago.
The average time for an ambulance to reach the scene of a Code 1 emergency in Nillumbik over the same period has improved from 14:48 minutes to 13:44 minutes.
The Labor Government is now building on its record investment with a further $109 million boost to back paramedics – we’ll recruit even more paramedics, build new stations and get 23 new vehicles on the road.
Quote attributable to Minister for Ambulance Services Jenny Mikakos
“In a medical emergency, every second counts. With round-the-clock coverage in Diamond Creek, local families can have peace of mind that world-class lifesaving care is just around the corner – all day, every day.”
Quote attributable to Member for Yan Yean Danielle Green
“We’ve built a cutting-edge facility that Diamond Creek’s hardworking paramedics are proud to call home so they can do what they do best, which is saving lives.”
Quote attributable to Member for Eltham Vicki Ward
“This is great news for locals – paramedics in Diamond Creek can offer 24/7 care for the first time ever.”