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Ambulance Victoria
Agency overview
Formed1 July 2008
Preceding agencies
  • Metropolitan Ambulance Service
  • Rural Ambulance Victoria
  • Alexandra District Ambulance Service
JurisdictionVictoria
Employees4,123[1]
Annual budgetA$810.9 million (2015–2016)[1]
Minister responsible
Agency executive
  • Tony Walker ASM[1][3], Chief Executive Officer
Parent agencyDepartment of Health and Human Services
Websitewww.ambulance.vic.gov.au

Ambulance Victoria (AV), a Victorian agency of the Department of Health and Human Services, is the statutory provider of pre-hospital emergency care and ambulance services in Victoria. Ambulance Victoria was formed on 1 July 2008 with the merger of the Metropolitan Ambulance Service (MAS), Rural Ambulance Victoria (RAV), and the Alexandra District Ambulance Service (ADAS).[4] Ambulance Victoria has undergone significant reform since 2008.

Ambulance Victoria provides emergency medical response to more than 5.9 million people in an area of more than 227,000 square kilometres.[1] During 2015–2016, Ambulance Victoria responded to 843,051 cases.[1]

In 2016, it was announced that 450 extra paramedics would be employed.[5]

The service is funded by fees for the cost of transport and treatment by paramedics. Members are entitled to free services. Some private health funds may refund the cost of membership, but many do not. Ambulance fees are not recoverable from Medicare or health funds.

History

See also: Ambulance services of Victoria

A formal ambulance service began in Victoria in 1883. Over the years services were provided by St John Ambulance, Civil Ambulance Service and a multitude local area ambulance services.

In the 1980s the Metropolitan Ambulance Service was formed from a number of smaller area services; and 16 regional services were amalgamated into five. In 1997, the rural services were consolidated to one rural service, Rural Ambulance Victoria.

On 22 April 2008, Premier John Brumby and Health Minister Daniel Andrews announced a record funding boost of over $185m, including two new helicopter services, 26 new ambulance stations and over 300 new paramedics. In addition, it was announced that the way the state's ambulance services work was to be changed with Metropolitan Ambulance Service and Rural Ambulance Victoria becoming one organisation, Ambulance Victoria. On 26 May this decision was confirmed, with the consolidated service commencing operation on 1 July 2008.[6][7][8]

Overview

Ambulance Victoria is required under the Ambulance Services Act 1986 (Vic) to respond rapidly to requests for help in a medical emergency; provide specialised medical skills to maintain life and to reduce injuries in emergency situations and while transporting patients; provide specialised transport facilities to move people requiring emergency medical treatment; provide services for which specialised medical or transport skills are necessary and foster public education in first aid.[1][9]

Ambulance Victoria's primary function is to respond to emergency incidents and its secondary function is medical transport (non-emergency) requests. Emergency Incidents are responded to by paramedics, Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) paramedics, Air Ambulance paramedics and if in a regional area also by Ambulance Community Officers (ACO) employed on a casual basis and volunteer Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) or by Remote Area Nurse (RAN) from a bush hospital.[10][11][12] Ambulance Victoria has more than 260 ambulance branches located across Victoria.[13][14]

In 2015–2016, Ambulance Victoria's workforce was 3,438 paramedics and 578 MICA paramedics.[1] In addition, Ambulance Victoria employed 723 casual ACO and there were 357 CERT volunteers.[1]

In the same year, Ambulance Victoria responded to 843,051 emergency and non-emergency cases including 172,960 emergency road incidents in the five rural regions, 416,887 emergency road incidents in the two metropolitan regions and 4,556 emergency air incidents (2,033 by helicopter and 2,523 by plane).[1]

Ambulance Victoria assesses each emergency incident on receipt of the 000 call, designating the incident a code depending on the urgency/severity, and publishes its response times for each quarter of the year on the internet.[15]

Ambulance Victoria operates a Bicycle Response Unit in pre-planned operations for public events in Melbourne with large crowds.[16] The unit was established in the lead up to the 2006 Commonwealth Games.[17]

In 2012, a Paramedic Motorcycle Unit was trialled in inner city Melbourne operating two Piaggio MP3 three wheeled motorbikes.[18][19][20][21] The trial was successful with the BMW F700GS motorcycle selected to be the unit's motorcycle to operate in the inner Melbourne area mainly in the councils of City of Melbourne and City of Port Phillip.[22][23]

Communications

Ambulance Victoria's emergency and non-emergency patient transport communications are handled by Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA) communication centres in East Burwood, Williams Landing, and Ballarat.[24]

Ambulance communications functions include 000 Emergency call-taking, non-emergency patient transport requests, and ambulance dispatch for emergency and non-emergency vehicles. Modern emergency services communications is highly advanced, and communications staff use a wide range of technologies including digital and analogue radio, telephones, pagers, and advanced computer and GPS systems. Many emergency services vehicles, including ambulances, are fitted with mobile data terminals that enable them to view information, read messages sent by call-takers and dispatchers, and be notified of updates immediately as they become available. A number of communication services used by Ambulance Victoria, such as digital radio and mobile data terminals, are not available outside metropolitan Melbourne.[25]

Vehicles

Ambulance Victoria operates a range of vehicles:-[26][27]

  • Mercedes Benz Sprinter ambulance
    Mercedes Benz Sprinter ambulance
  • Ford Territory Mobile Intensive Care Paramedic (MICA)
    Ford Territory Mobile Intensive Care Paramedic (MICA)
  • Paramedic motorcycle units
    Paramedic motorcycle units

Their most common vehicle is the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. This vehicle is the frontline vehicle for all of victoria as they carry one patient at a time with loads of medical equipment, which is usually staffed by two paramedics. There are also different models including models with bull bars/push bumpers for better use in rural areas. AV also operates Mobile Intensive Care Ambulances which are staffed by more specially trained paramedics and different equipment. They also operate Non-Emergency Patient Transport Ambulances (NEPT) and Clinical Transport Services units (CTS). For more complex patients, AV has Complex Patient Ambulance Vehicles (CPAV) and Adult Retrieval Services (AR) both are similar to the standard general ambulances. The CPAV units include a lift platform at the back instead of regular doors, the AR unit has more specialist equipment.

Introduced in 2017, AV teamed up with The Royal Melbourne Hospital, the Stroke Foundation and numerous other agencies to create a $7 Million Mobile Stroke Unit Ambulance (MSU). The state-of-the-art vehicle include specialist equipment tailored to stroke patients. In the ambulance is a built-in CT-Scanner.[28] Two paramedics staff the ambulance (including a MICA paramedic), a CT radiographer, a stroke neurologist and a stroke nurse specialist. The first MSU is currently running as car 6600. In 2020, it was announced that AV would commence building a next generation Stroke Ambulance otherwise known as MSU-2 [29]

Air Ambulance Victoria

Ambulance Victoria has a fleet of helicopters and fixed wing aircraft operated by Air Ambulance Victoria (AAV) based out of Essendon Airport in Melbourne with helicopters strategically placed in regional Victoria. In addition, the helicopters respond to search and rescue incidents, able to utilise the winch, including sea rescues.

Augusta Westland AW139

Helicopters

AAV operates five twin engine AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters provided by Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia.[30][31][32] The helicopters were introduced from 2016 to replace the four Bell 412EP helicopters and also one Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphin helicopter that had been operated in partnership with the Victoria Police Air Wing.[33][34]

The helicopters are designated HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) and operate throughout the state:-[34]

  • HEMS 1 based at Essendon Airport.
  • HEMS 2 based at La Trobe Valley Airport.
  • HEMS 3 based at Bendigo Airport.
  • HEMS 4 based at Warrnambool Airport.
  • HEMS 5 is for primary response and specialist medical retrieval based at Essendon Airport.

Helicopter operations commenced in 1970 with a Bell 206A JetRanger known as the 'Angel of Mercy' based on the Mornington Peninsula operated from Tyabb Airport.[35] In 1980, a Hughes 500D was operated in the La Trobe Valley, later a Bell 206 Long Ranger and from 1985 a Bell 412 known as Helimed 1 later renamed to HEMS 2.[36] In 1986, AAV entered a partnership with the Victoria Police Air Wing to use a Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin which would respond to both police and ambulance incidents with ambulance given priority known as HEMS 1 and replacing the 'Angel of Mercy'. Two helicopters were configured for the aeromedical role with one as a spare.[37] In 2001, a Bell 412EP was operated from Bendigo airport known as HEMS 3.[38] In 2009, a Bell 412EP was operated from Warrnambool Airport known as HEMS 4 and a second Bell 412EP was operated from Essendon known as HEMS 5 to transport critically ill patients from rural hospitals to Melbourne.[39][40] In January 2017, the final of the five new AgustaWestland AW139s entered service replacing the Victoria Police Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin and ending the partnership.[41] The aircraft are staffed by MICA Flight Paramedics who are trained to administer blood, conduct ultrasounds, complete complex procedures and perform winch rescues.[42][43][10]

Fixed-wing aircraft

AAV has operated four Beechcraft Super King Air B200s, provided by Pel-Air Aviation, from its Essendon headquarters since 2011 and can reach most of Victoria within an hour.[44][45] They are used mainly for transporting patients from rural towns to the major hospitals in Melbourne and can carry two stretcher patients and two walking patients. This service includes bringing people to Melbourne for regular treatments such as oncology and dialysis while also facilitating acute medical conditions requiring surgery or the transfer of injured patients from rural hospitals to specialist care. The service now reaches to more than 86 towns within Victoria while also servicing southern New South Wales, northern Tasmania and some parts of South Australia.[46][47] The aircraft are typically staffed by advanced life support (ALS) paramedics.[43]

  • Beechcraft B200C King Air operated by Pel-Air at Avalon Airport
    Beechcraft B200C King Air operated by Pel-Air at Avalon Airport
  • Beechcraft B200C King Air at Avalon Airport
    Beechcraft B200C King Air at Avalon Airport

Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Assault in Ambulance Victoria

Victorian Auditor-General Audit into Bullying and Harassment in the Health Sector 2016

On 23 March 2016, the Victorian Auditor-General tabled a damning report into "Bullying and Harassment in the Health Sector".[48] Ambulance Victoria was one of four Government Health Bodies that was audited as part of this report.

As part of the audit, the Auditor General looked at the background of the issue, workplace culture, preventing bullying and harassment, responding to bullying and harassment and sector-wide collaboration and support.[49]

Key Findings from the Audit into Bullying and Harassment in the Health Sector

Key findings from the audit included:

  1. "[Dr Peter Frost - Victorian Auditor-General] found that health sector agencies are failing to respond effectively to bullying and harassment as a serious OHS risk."[49]
  2. "... The audited agencies do not understand the extent, causes or impact of bullying and harassment in their respective organisations, even when such issues have resulted in significant media attention and reputational damage."[49]
  3. "Audited agencies also do not have the fundamental, underpinning foundations of effective policies and procedures, and do not adequately train their staff and managers to deal with inappropriate behaviours to prevent them escalating into serious bullying and harassment."[49]
  4. "... when issues become serious bullying and harassment matters these agencies do not have the appropriate procedures to manage them or document the details to help inform future planning and action."[49]

Ambulance Victoria's Response to the Victorian Auditor-General Audit into Bullying and Harassment in the Health Sector 2016

On 15 March 2016, chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr Ken Lay, AO, APM, acknowledged of the Audit and committed the Organisation to accepting all the recommendations of the Audit through the Ambulance and Policy Consultative Committee.[48] Part of Mr Lay's response included "achieve[ing] sustainable culture change within Ambulance Victoria."[48]

Allegations made public

On 26 October 2020, Allegations of widespread bullying, harassment and gross misconduct were public reported by The Age after 13 Paramedics raised an open letter to Mr Ken Lay, chairman of the board of directors.[50]

Allegations made about unlawful activities by Ambulance Victoria Employees

The Age noted that:

  • Paramedics reported "active discrimination and instances of abuse in our workplace".[50]
  • The "fear of retribution is rife and stops people speaking up about what they have seen".[50]
  • "sex-based maltreatment and the lack of redress has caused them serious mental health issues, including suicidal ideation."[50]
  • "12 Ambulance Victoria employees have reported rape or attempted rape or sexual assault at work, and two men have been referred to Victoria Police by the organisation for the alleged sexual assault of colleagues."[51]

Ambulance Victoria commissioned review by The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission

On 27 October 2020, the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission announced that it had been asked to conduct a review into allegations of unlawful, discriminatory behaviour at Ambulance Victoria by. On 30 November 2020, The Commission released the terms of reference for its review of Ambulance Victoria.[52] Throughout the process, the commission has provided public updates regarding the review.

On 20 September 2021, The commission announced that the review would be released in two Volumes "in large part due to the higher than anticipated number of people who came forward to share their experiences and views with the Commission."[53]

  • Volume 1 was released on the 30th of November, 2021.
  • Volume 2 is set to be published in March 2022.

Volume 1

Volume 1 was released on 30 November 2021 by The commission.[54]

Volume 1 Key Themes

Key Themes noted by The Commissions included;

  • "...AV’s approach to preventing discrimination, sexual harassment, bullying and victimisation is still maturing and it is not complying fully with the positive duty in the Act."[55]
  • "47.2% of survey respondents reported experiencing discrimination, 17.4% reported experiencing sexual harassment, 52.4% reported experiencing bullying and 34.5% reporting experiencing victimisation"[55]
  • "We [The Commission] commonly heard that mental ill-health and stress followed unlawful conduct."[55]
  • "one participant shared in their written submission: 'Who would’ve guessed the most traumatic thing I’ve experienced and witnessed as a [P]aramedic was workplace behaviour?'"[55]

Recommendations from Volume 1

  1. establishing an independent restorative engagement scheme;
  2. adopting a new set of organisational values;
  3. developing a comprehensive prevention plan;
  4. establishing a new organisational model for responding to reports and complaints;
  5. introducing anonymous reporting pathways;
  6. undertaking a security audit of isolated work environments;
  7. embedding a more structured approach to encouraging bystander action;

[55]

Ambulance Victoria's Response

On the 30th of November, 2021, The Commission noted that Ambulance Victoria had accepted all recommendations.

Volume 2

Volume 2 is due to be released in March 2022 by the Commission

Ongoing concerns by Ambulance Victoria Staff

On the 29th of November, 2021, almost a one-year after the allegations were first publicly raised, a number of Ambulance Victoria Employees, had reported that "in some cases victimisation has worsened since the inquiry began."[56] The Age also reported that "[One] person is well known to the executive level as a problem, for at least 10 years. He is a direct threat ... but management are not listening."[56]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Ambulance Victoria. "Annual Report 2015-2016" (PDF). Retrieved 10 December 2016. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. ^ "Minister for Ambulance Services". Victorian Government Directory. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  3. ^ "Tony Walker appointed as CEO". Ambulance Victoria. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  4. ^ "Vic ambulance services to be merged". ABC News. 22 April 2008. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  5. ^ "450 New Paramedics On The Road To Put People First" (Press release). Premier of Victoria. 27 November 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  6. ^ "$185.7 million boost to Victorian Ambulance Services" (Press release). Department of Human Services. 22 April 2008. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  7. ^ "Ambulance Victoria to lead the way" (Press release). Department of Human Services. 26 May 2008. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  8. ^ "Ambulance Victoria new statewide ambulance service" (Press release). Rural Ambulance Victoria. 3 July 2008. Archived from the original on 27 March 2011.
  9. ^ "Ambulance Services Act 1986 (Victoria)". Austlii.
  10. ^ a b "Types of Paramedics". Ambulance Victoria. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  11. ^ "We Love Our Volunteers". Ambulance Victoria. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  12. ^ "Remote Area Nurse Training". Rural Ambulance Victoria. Archived from the original on 27 March 2011.
  13. ^ Ambulance Performance and Policy Consultative Committee (December 2015). "Victoria's Ambulance Action Plan - Improving Services, Saving Lives - Final Report". Department of Health and Human Services, Victorian Government. Retrieved 10 December 2016. {{cite journal}}: |author1= has generic name (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  14. ^ "Branches". Ambulance Victoria. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012.
  15. ^ "Our Performance – Ambulance Victoria". ambulance.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  16. ^ "Bicycle Response Units". Ambulance Victoria. Archived from the original on 5 March 2015.
  17. ^ "Bicycle Response Unit". Metropolitan Ambulance Service. Archived from the original on 22 July 2008.
  18. ^ O'Connell, Brigid (1 December 2012). "Motorcycle ambulances provide a rough ride for paramedics". Herald Sun. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  19. ^ van den Berg, Lucie (3 January 2013). "Ambulance Victoria motorbikes taken off the road following crash as brakes failed". Herald Sun. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  20. ^ "Victoria's first Motorcycle Paramedic Unit" (Press release). Department of Health & Human Services. 2 December 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  21. ^ Rolfe, Peter (30 October 2011). "Motorbike medics to hit the streets". Herald Sun. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  22. ^ "Our Paramedic Motorcycle Unit in action". Ambulance Victoria. 31 March 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  23. ^ Paul Riley (8 July 2013), "Ambulance Victoria to use BMW F700GS for emergency response", Observations of a Perpetual Motorcyclist (blog), Skill Master Motorcycle Services, archived from the original on 19 July 2013, retrieved 10 December 2016
  24. ^ "Computer Aided Dispatch". Metropolitan Ambulance Service. Archived from the original on 13 June 2009.
  25. ^ "Resource Management". Metropolitan Ambulance Service. Archived from the original on 22 July 2008.
  26. ^ "Ambulance Stretcher Vehicles". Ambulance Victoria. Archived from the original on 29 February 2016.
  27. ^ "Ambulance Single Response Units (SRU)". Ambulance Victoria. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016.
  28. ^ {{title=Mobile Stroke Units|url=https://strokefoundation.org.au/What-we-do/Research/Stroke%20Ambulance
  29. ^ https://www.thermh.org.au/news/next-generation-mobile-stroke-unit-under-development
  30. ^ "Australian Helicopters awarded new Vic air ambulance contract". Australian Aviation. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  31. ^ "Delivering solutions for Ambulance Victoria". Babcock Australasia. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  32. ^ "LCI Helicopters to Lease Six AW139s to Australian Helicopter". LCI (Press release). 26 February 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  33. ^ Minister for Ambulance Services (29 July 2015). "New Air Ambulance Helicopter On Show". Premier of Victoria (Press release). Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  34. ^ a b "Air Ambulance Helicopters". Ambulance Victoria. Archived from the original on 29 February 2016.
  35. ^ "Angel of Mercy". Colac Ambulance. Archived from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  36. ^ "HEMS 2". Colac Ambulance. Archived from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  37. ^ "HEMS 1". Colac Ambulance. Archived from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  38. ^ "HEMS 3". Ambulance Victoria. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  39. ^ "HEMS 4". Colac Ambulance. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  40. ^ "HEMS 5". Colac Ambulance. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  41. ^ "New era on the horizon for Air Ambulance". Ambulance Victoria (Press release). 13 January 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  42. ^ "First female MICA Flight Paramedics qualify with Ambulance Victoria". Ambulance Victoria (Press release). 3 May 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  43. ^ a b "Fixed Wing Aircraft fleet ticks over 40,000 flying hours". Ambulance Victoria (Press release). 7 May 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  44. ^ "Pel-Air contract extension with Ambulance Victoria" (PDF). Regional Express (Press release). 24 June 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  45. ^ "Victorias new air ambulance planes set to take off". Department of Health & Human Services (Press release). 16 June 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  46. ^ "Air Ambulances". Ambulance Victoria. Archived from the original on 29 February 2016.
  47. ^ "Air Ambulance". Ambulance Victoria. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  48. ^ a b c "Bullying and Harassment in the Health Sector". Victorian Auditor-General's Office. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  49. ^ a b c d e https://www.audit.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/20160323-Bullying.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  50. ^ a b c d Tuohy, Wendy (26 October 2020). "Sex discrimination and harassment widespread in Ambulance Victoria, say paramedics". The Age. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  51. ^ Tuohy, Wendy (29 November 2021). "Half of paramedics report bullying, some allege rape and sexual assault at work". The Age. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  52. ^ Terms of Reference Endorsed by AV Board 30 November 2020
  53. ^ "Ambulance Victoria review – Update 10 (20 September 2021)". Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  54. ^ "Ambulance Victoria review – Update 12 (19 November 2021)". Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  55. ^ a b c d e "Ambulance Victoria review – Update 12 (19 November 2021)". Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  56. ^ a b Tuohy, Wendy (29 November 2021). "Paramedics still feel 'suicidal' due to bullying despite human rights inquiry". The Age. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
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