Indigo Shire records worst ambulance response times in Victoria again

Despite additional resources coming on board in Beechworth and Chiltern in recent times, Indigo's result of 26.3 per cent for code one incidents replied to in under 15 minutes for the fourth quarter of 2021-21 is the lowest in Victoria.

The latest results will be tabled at Indigo Shire's next meeting tomorrow night.

Shire chief executive Trevor Ierino confirmed, in a report tabled for councillor consideration, additional ambulance services had started in Beechworth in late June and in Chiltern in recent days

"We recognise as of a result of our lobbying efforts over the last few years Ambulance Victoria have announced more resources for Chiltern and Beechworth," he said.

"It's early days at the moment and it will take time for these numbers to hopefully improve with the additional allocated resources.

"We continue to advocate for better services for the Indigo community, and we look forward to seeing improved response times as a result of the additional resources."

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Member for Northern Victoria Tania Maxwell has previously raised Indigo's poor response times in Parliament.

"I have called again and again for the government to provide effective support at a local level so our communities can be confident that an ambulance, when called, will arrive quickly," she said.

"Indigo communities have experienced the lowest response times in the state and the latest quarter figure shows the average response inside 15 minutes is one per cent worse than a year ago.

"I asked Health Minister Martin Foley in Parliament on August 4 what the government is doing to improve these response times and fix persistent ramping at hospital emergency departments, which delays ambulance availability.

"I'm awaiting his response."

The fourth quarter result dropped from 27.6 per cent in the third quarter when Loddon pipped Indigo with 27.3 per cent.

Indigo clearly had the worst result in the state in the second quarter with 21.5 per cent.

By comparison fourth quarter response times in surrounding North-East council areas were Alpine 47.3 per cent, Benalla 56.2 per cent, Moira 51.7 per cent, Towong 45.2 per cent, Wangaratta 70.7 per cent and Wodonga 82.7 per cent.

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