PARAMEDICS and first responders are getting back on the road faster and improving response times because of a significant drop in clearing times in the Hume Region, according to Ambulance Victoria (AV).
Hospital clearing times are the duration between an ambulance crew completing their patient handover and being available to attend another case.
Introduced last year, the standards for safe and timely ambulance and emergency care are improving handover times across Victoria.
Hume Regional Director Narelle Capp said in the Hume Region, the average hospital clearing times dropped by more than five minutes last year.
“Every small improvement – from more efficient hospital handovers to quicker clearing times – adds up to better care for all Victorians,” Ms Capp said.
The Hume Region average clearing time has dropped from 29.7 minutes between January and March, 2025, to 24.4 minutes between October and December, 2025.
The latest ambulance performance data for October to December, 2025, has shown improvements statewide and in 49 local government areas (LGAs).
During the October to December quarter across Victoria, AV crews responded to 65.1 per cent of Code 1 cases within the state-wide target of 15 minutes – up from 64.1 per cent in the previous quarter. The state-wide average response time to Code 1 emergencies was 15 minutes and 40 seconds – six seconds faster than the previous quarter.
AV responded to 100,292 Code 1 emergencies across Victoria during the October to December quarter – slightly down on the previous quarter but still the third highest on record.
“Despite this demand, we continue to lead the way in pre-hospital patient care, including the best cardiac arrest survival rates in Australia and third best anywhere in the world,” Ms Capp said.
In the Hume region, paramedics and first responders responded to 5791 Code 1 cases between October and December, 2025.
The biggest improvements in the Hume region were in the Mansfield LGA and the major population centre of Wallan.
• In the Mansfield LGA, paramedics attended 50.4 per cent of Code 1 patients within 15 minutes – up from 41.1 per cent in the previous quarter – the biggest improvement in the state. As a result, the average Code 1 response time decreased by four minutes and 48 seconds.
• In the Wallan major population centre, paramedics attended 64.2 per cent of Code 1 patients within 15 minutes – up from 55.3 per cent in the previous quarter – the second biggest improvement in the state. As a result, the average Code 1 response time decreased by 55 seconds.
AV Acting Executive Director Regional Operations Michael Georgiou said AV is working closely with hospitals, emergency services and government partners to keep patients moving through the system as quickly as possible and get ambulances back on the road sooner.
“Reducing clearing times is just one way we are striving to achieve the standards, with work also under way to complete more efficient patient transfers and using other care options such as the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department when safe and appropriate,” Mr Georgiou said.
In a life-threatening emergency always call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
