Wednesday, 17 May 2023

Ambulance services

Emma KEALY (Lowan) (14:10): My question is to the Minister for Health, who is answering questions for the Minister for Ambulance Services. On 9 November 2022 there were a hundred and –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition and the Deputy Premier will come to order.

Emma KEALY: On 9 November 2022 there were 110 Victorians waiting –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition! Premier and the Leader of the Opposition, I would like to hear the question in silence. This is not a good example for the new members of Parliament.

Emma KEALY: Thank you, Speaker. On 9 November 2022 there were 110 Victorians waiting for an ambulance, and reduced fleet availability. Why was a code red not called?

Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Health Infrastructure, Minister for Medical Research) (14:11): The decisions about whether or not code red or indeed a code orange are called are entirely made by Ambulance Victoria and the clinicians within that organisation.

Emma KEALY (Lowan) (14:11): How many times was the rapid off-load strategy enacted in November 2022?

Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Health Infrastructure, Minister for Medical Research) (14:11): Well, once again, operational decisions are made by clinicians at Ambulance Victoria and indeed in our health services. These are made according to demand at the time.

Emma Kealy: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the question was how many times –

The SPEAKER: I am aware of the question, member for Lowan. The minister has concluded her answer.