Wednesday, 7 February 2024

Ambulance services

Emma KEALY (Lowan) (14:12): My question is to the Minister for Health. Yesterday for almost 12 hours all fixed-wing air ambulances were grounded due to a lack of pilots. There are four aircraft statewide, and typically three are meant to be operational at any time. Why weren’t there any pilots available for this life-saving service?

Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Health Infrastructure, Minister for Ambulance Services) (14:12): I always welcome a question from the opposition on ambulance services, because it does give me an opportunity to just outline to those on the other side of the house our government’s investment in ambulance services in Victoria. When we came to government we had an ambulance system in crisis. We had a government that was at war with our paramedics. Since we have been in government we have invested more than $2 billion in our ambulance services. We have more paramedics here in Victoria than ever before. In fact we have increased that workforce. We have got more than 50 per cent more AV teams on the road.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, we are almost 1 minute into the answer. The answer does have to address the question, and the question related to 12 hours yesterday when air ambulances were not available. The minister has not come anywhere near that question, and I would ask you to bring her to the question that was asked.

The SPEAKER: The minister has time to address the question that was asked. She was only 1 minute into her answer. I ask the minister to come back to the question.

Mary-Anne THOMAS: Thank you very much, Speaker. Of course it is important to understand that our ambulance service works as one, be that our paramedics on the road, in the air or indeed on motorbikes. But what I can do is confirm, having sought advice from Ambulance Victoria regarding these operational matters, that 24-hour coverage is being delivered by Ambulance Victoria’s fleet.

Emma KEALY (Lowan) (14:14): Air ambulances respond to an average of 21 critical incidents every single day. How many Victorians could not obtain an air ambulance yesterday when they needed one?

Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Health Infrastructure, Minister for Ambulance Services) (14:15): Once again, I welcome the supplementary question. I have got to say taking a lecture from those on the other side when it comes to ambulance services in this state is absolutely rich. Once again –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! I would remind members that interjecting across the table is not parliamentary, it is disrespectful. It is also disrespectful to be yelling across the table when someone is on their feet trying to either give a point of order or answer a question.

Emma Kealy: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, this is related to air ambulances, which provide critical, very rapid transfer of patients to central tertiary hospitals in Melbourne. Road ambulances take patients a much longer period of time. I ask you to bring the minister back to air ambulances and to respond to the question put.

The SPEAKER: I ask the minister to come back to the question that was asked.

Mary-Anne THOMAS: As I have already indicated, I have sought advice from Ambulance Victoria in relation to these operational matters, and as I have advised, there is 24-hour coverage delivered by Air Ambulance Victoria’s fleet. This is the information that I have received from Ambulance Victoria.