Latest News

22 Apr 2008

Record funding announcement for ambulance

The funding will allow MAS to:

• Establish an emergency air ambulance for the southwest region as well as fully fund a dedicated retrieval helicopter to transport critically ill patients from rural hospitals to specialist care in Melbourne
• recruit 300 new paramedics over the next two years
• review, restructuring and expansion of MICA services
• open 22 new ambulance branches

MAS Chief Executive Officer Greg Sassella said that the funding announcement today showed an unequivocal commitment to world leading pre-hospital care for Victorians.

'We're very pleased by the announcement today, it represents a landmark in ambulance care in Victoria and it means all Victorians will continue to receive the highest level of care in Australia whether you live in the city or country,' Mr Sassella said.

'This is a significant investment in ambulance; it shows a commitment to ambulance services now and for years to come and demonstrates willingness by the government to accept our advice and act upon our suggestions to continue to provide the best ambulance care possible to all Victorians. We have the best survival rates for critically ill and this means we can continue that level of service to our community.

'We were recognised as the national leader by the industry last year and this allows us to develop our service even further.

'For Victorians this means we have the ambulances, the staff, the funding and the clinical excellence to ensure that if you call for an ambulance, you continue to get the best care available.’

'The changes from this funding will also allow us to ease paramedic’s workload, increase roster flexibility for paramedics to reduce the number of nightshifts addressing fatigue as well ensuring that Victorians continue to receive the best care in the nation,' Mr Sassella said.