Fifty ambulance crews dropped across Victoria

Members have reported dropped ambulance crews and intensive care crews across the state, including in Cobram, Shepparton and Rochester.

Multiple crews calling for intensive care back up for critically unwell patients were told none were available, according to the union.

Code one cases were held for over an hour for available crews and some crews drove 60km or more to get to code one cases, the union said.

“The members rarely get breaks, almost never finish on time and they are exhausted and burnt out,” Victorian Ambulance Union secretary Danny Hill said.

“So, this is the reality we are facing.

“We have been warning about the need to better support the workforce, so we have a healthy and well supported workforce.

“If you don’t support the workforce, then the response to the community suffers.”

Ambulance Victoria said the amount of sick leave being taken by paramedics and crews was due to the time of year.

“The health system is extremely busy due to seasonal illness circulating within our communities and our workforce, and we acknowledge the workload of our paramedics right across the state,” a spokesperson said.

“We have as many crews on the road as possible and our priority will always be responding to the sickest and most time-critical patients.

“We use a dynamic operating model that relocates resources as necessary to minimise rostering impacts.”