A string of disturbing failures in triple zero and ambulance services across regional Victoria highlighted the need for immediate government action, The Nationals Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad told Parliament this week.
Ms Broad listed a series of incidents where people had been left waiting in dire circumstances.
“Across Northern Victoria there has been a range of failures within the Triple Zero system and ambulance services,” Ms Broad said.
“I spoke with a man from Castlemaine who knew of a girl left to wait for two hours on the side of the road after a fall that broke her arm, despite the ambulance station being nearby.
“Earlier this year Jonathon Chesnais from Kerang could not get an ambulance despatched after a motorbike crash. His mum had to take him to the hospital herself and he was then airlifted to the Alfred Hospital with a serious spinal fracture.
“At Beechworth, locals raised concerns about the slow response times for ambulance services, which are among the highest in the state.”
Ms Broad said communities on the Victorian-NSW border were also at greater risk due to communication glitches.
According to the Ambulance Union, ‘unnecessary delays’ are putting lives at risk in 38 communities on the border, including Mildura, Swan Hill, Yarrawonga and Corryong. Residents may not get the closest ambulance when they call triple-0 due to call routing issues. The Ambulance Union said they had raised concerns about cross border responses for 12 months, but nothing has happened.
“I raised these matters in Parliament because in times of crisis, people rely on triple zero and depend on ambulance services.”
“The Labor State Government needs to take action to address these issues because lives are at risk,” Ms Broad said.
Media Contact: Linda Barrow 0484 303 764 linda.barrow@parliament.vic.gov.au