With increasing concern over ambulance services Health Minister Daniel Andrews has admitted that there are gaps in Victoria’s ambulance services and once new paramedics arrive the problem will be addressed under the government's regional ambulance policy.
These comments followed the case of a 46 year old Kyneton woman who received ambulance service 90 minutes after it was summoned. She was suffering from a suspected stroke and the ambulance got lost twice before it reached her. She was later diagnosed with a brain tumor.
Ambulance Victoria in defense said that this was probably a one off case and would merit an investigation. Mr. Andrews revealed that regional ambulance services had 1,000 paramedics, 500 more than when Labor came to government he said, “But I don't for a moment say it is a perfect system. We can always improve and we are committed to do just that.”
With the new ambulance policy in place he said, Victoria will receive hundreds of new paramedics regardless of who wins November's state election. He concluded that, “We are putting the final touches to an important boost and immediate boost to ambulance services…This is an important process, one that has been going on a very long time and we'll have more to say about that very soon.” The opposition last week announced it promised a $151 million fund for more than 300 extra ambulance officers.