Ambulance Victoria’s response times to critical cases in Campaspe improved in the most recent reported quarter, but still remains below target.

Between January and March this year, crews in the region responded to 60.6 per cent of code one emergencies in 15 minutes or less, AV’s official target.

The average paramedic response time in Campaspe was 16 minutes and 38 seconds across 678 total responses.

In Echuca, 80.1 per cent of code one emergencies were responded to within the official target, and an average response time of 12 minutes and 47 seconds was recorded.

Loddon Mallee regional director Matt McCrohan said AV understood there was more work to be done.

“We continue to work with our partners to ensure our paramedics and first responders are dispatched to the right patient at the right time,” he said.

Mr McCrohan said AV welcomed the state’s new standards for safe and timely ambulance and emergency care.

“(The standards) seek to improve system-wide patient flow so that patients can be transferred into a hospital in a timely way, and paramedics are back on the road and responding to the community,” he said.

New paramedics across the state, advanced technology, and AV’s secondary triage team are among other improvements implemented to bolster response times.

Mr McCrohan encouraged Victorians to do their part to ensure AV’s highly skilled paramedics were available for patients most in need.

“There are many options people can access when they need timely medical care and health advice but don’t need an emergency ambulance, including the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department,” he said.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began over five years ago, AV has seen a 31.8 per cent increase in code one cases.

As ambulance demand is expected to rise in winter, Mr McCrohan encouraged community members to book their flu vaccination, keep regular check-ups with a GP, and stay home if unwell.

“We can all help to protect ourselves and people most at risk in the community,” he said.

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Thursday, 9th October 2025

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