Victorians experienced significant delays in receiving urgent medical care recently, as staffing shortages in the ambulance service, extended ambulance ramping, and overwhelming pressure on emergency departments (EDs) created a challenging night for hospitals across the state. Emergency departments were inundated with patients, leading to excessive wait times. One individual shared their experience of waiting 12 hours to be seen at Box Hill Hospital after arriving at 9:30 pm.
During this busy night, only 4 per cent of Melbourne’s ambulance fleet could respond to genuine emergencies. According to Danny Hill, chief executive of the Victorian Ambulance Union, approximately 30 ambulances were unstaffed across Melbourne at peak times, dramatically affecting emergency service availability. He noted that 22 advanced life support and 8 mobile intensive care ambulances were unavailable for their shifts, further straining the system and exacerbating transport delays.
Despite winter traditionally being a high-demand period for hospitals, Hill emphasised that a lack of communication regarding the system’s pressures from Ambulance Victoria and the Department of Health was inadequate. He argued that the public should have been informed about the potential delays in ambulance services and ED admissions, allowing them to seek alternative care.
Danielle North, the regional operations executive director of Ambulance Victoria, acknowledged that a “winter peak” in demand had been reached, urging the community to utilise services responsibly and seek alternative care when appropriate. Premier Jacinta Allan confirmed that a Code Orange had been issued, a precautionary signal indicating increased demand for ambulance services.
Allan pointed out that seasonal fluctuations in demand often lead to such declarations and highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by ambulance and hospital services. She encouraged Victorians to use the Virtual Emergency Department or visit one of the 29 urgent care clinics available throughout the state for non-critical situations, underscoring the necessity of reducing pressure on ambulance and emergency resources.
In conclusion, the night’s events served as a reminder of the importance of effective communication and community cooperation in managing health system pressures while advocating for continued investment and reform in emergency services.