1 January 2018

Canberra’s ambulance response times boosted by extra staff and resources

| Glynis Quinlan
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Photo: File image from ACT Ambulance Service website.

Ambulance response times will be boosted in Canberra with the city set to receive a full new ambulance crew and two new ambulances in 2018.

ACT Emergency Services Minister Mick Gentleman said that 24 additional staff will be recruited in addition to the recruitment of 11 paramedics currently underway.

Mr Gentleman said that demand for ambulances in Canberra has increased by 25 per cent since 2012-13, but the ACT has continued to record the best response times in the country during this time, as well as the highest levels of patient satisfaction.

“The professionalism of the women and men of the ACT Ambulance Service has ensured our response times have remained the fastest,” Mr Gentleman said.

“However, the increase in demand has the government concerned for the welfare of a committed ambulance workforce as they continue to meet the community’s expectations.

“Ensuring that our emergency service employees and volunteers have the right support to do their jobs well and safely is a top priority for the ACT Government,” he said.

“The delivery of more paramedics to the ACT Ambulance Service demonstrates a government committed to keeping Canberrans safe by ensuring our emergency services are second to none.”

Mr Gentleman said the new positions will be filled progressively, with the first new recruits starting soon.

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Kerry Dawson1:24 pm 02 Feb 18

This is great news to hear! Pity they did not have an ambulance available yesterday when my 19 months old granddaughter had an accident and hurt herself. My daughter in-law was in a panic as she could not help her so she rang for an Ambulance only to be told there is none available, which than panicked her even more. She told the operator she will drive her to Bruce Hospital from Bonner but was told not to in case things got worse due to her injury. She had no choice but to ring her partner at his work and he arrived home to collect them and drove to a doctors surgery in Gungahlin as it was the closed option. She not only had to deal with her daughter but also her 8yrs old son whom when seen his little sisters ordeal was very upset and crying. These poor ambulance staff were obviously stretched to there limits yesterday. Maybe there needs to be an Ambulance Station for the Gungahlin area?

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