WHILE Ambulance Victoria (AV) is rejoicing its paramedics and first responders getting to patients needing lifesaving care faster with hospital clearing times in the Hume Region improving, it has been mixed results for the Mitchell local government area (LGA).
Hume Regional Director Narelle Capp said in the Hume Region, paramedics and first responders responded to 5527 Code 1 cases between January and March this year.
In the Mitchell LGA, the total number of first responses was 951 in this quarter. The average response time was 17.23 minutes, with 54.2 per cent Code 1 incidents, compared with the target of 85 per cent within 15 minutes.
This compares to the average time of 17.53 minutes in the same quarter last year, with total number of Code 1 cases being 800.
In Kilmore UCL (urban centres and localities), the total number of first responses was 174 between January and March this year. The average response time was 15.38 minutes. This is a slight improvement compared with the same quarter last year, when the average response time for Code 1 cases was 15.57 minutes, with the total cases attended being 129.
In Wallan UCL, there were 281 Code 1 cases, with average time of 15.03 minutes during the quarter this year. The average response time in the same quarter last year was 15.51 minutes, and the total was 228.
The average clearing time in the Hume Region has dropped from 29.6 minutes between January and March 2025 to 22.6 minutes between January and March 2026.
“The quicker response times are thanks to the incredible efforts of our hard-working crews who are clearing hospital seven minutes faster than a year ago,” Ms Capp said.
“When we leave hospital faster, we can get back out into the community faster – and that means better outcomes for patients facing critical life-threatening emergencies.”
Hospital clearing times are the duration between an ambulance crew completing their patient handover and being available to attend another case.
The latest performance data shows improvement across Victoria with emergency ambulance crews responding to 66.4 per cent of Code 1 cases within the state-wide target of 15 minutes between January and March this year, up from 65.1 per cent in the previous quarter.
AV Executive Director Regional Operations Michael Georgiou said AV’s Triage Services team — staffed by nurses and paramedics — also plays a vital role by connecting people with the right care and freeing up ambulances for life-threatening emergencies.
“From January to March, 49,508 people who did not need an emergency ambulance were instead connected to more appropriate care by our expert Triage Services team.”
Ms Capp reminded people in the Hume Region to access urgent care services appropriate to their medical needs that free up paramedics and first responders for the most critical, life-threatening emergencies.
“There are many free and fast options people can access when you need timely medical care and health advice, at any time of the night or day, including the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department, Nurse-on-Call or Urgent Care Clinics.
In a life-threatening emergency always call Triple Zero (000) immediately.