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Metropolitan Ambulance Service 'Response Report' September 1998
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The latest quarterly ‘Response Report’ of the Metropolitan Ambulance Service (MAS) has shown a continuing increase in the demand for ambulance attendances.
Compared with the previous June Quarter, the emergency ambulance caseload increased by 10%; 8.3% more emergency patients were transported; 8.4% more non-emergency stretcher patients were transported; and Air Ambulance transports increased 11.8%.
In response to increased demand, several new ambulance stations are proposed to open in the first half of 1999 in Moonee Ponds, Greensborough, East Burwood, Belgrave, Coolaroo and Hampton Park. The operating hours of 11 existing ambulance stations will also be extended.
The cost of ambulance transport also rose on September 1. Melbourne emergency services now cost $200 for attendance or a flat fee of $545 if the patient is transported to hospital; this represents the actual cost of service provision and is the first increase since 1992. All Public Hospitals will be fully compensated for the additional costs thereby incurred.
|
Dec 1996 | Mar 1997 | June 1997 | Sep 1997 | Dec 1997 | Mar 1998 | Jun 1998 |  |
| Code 1 Cases | 25,179 |
27,160 |
28,448 |
31,086 |
30,117 |
28,801 |
31,961 |
|
| Code 2 Cases | 13,331 |
11,099 |
11,141 |
12,069 |
11,772 |
11,784 |
11,115 |
|
| Code 3 Cases | 340 |
874 |
1,473 |
1,871 |
1,667 |
1,783 |
2,088 |
|
| Total Cases | 38,850 |
39,133 |
41,062 |
45,026 |
43,556 |
42,368 |
45,164 |
|
| Patients Transported | 28,838 |
29,068 |
31,215 |
33,690 |
32,165 |
31,339 |
33,793 |
|
| Code 1 Case: A time critical case (lights and sirens); Code 2 Case: An acute, non-time critical case; Code 3 Case: A non-acute or routine case | ||||||||
|
Dec 1996 | Mar 1997 | June 1997 | Sep 1997 | Dec 1997 | Mar 1998 | Jun 1998 | |
| Code 1 Cases | 25,179 |
27,160 |
28,448 |
31,086 |
30,117 |
28,801 |
31,961 |
|
| 50% Response Time | 9 |
10 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
|
| 90% Response Time | 16 |
16 |
15 |
15 |
14 |
14 |
15 |
|
The Ambulance Membership Scheme continues to maintain a stable level of around 51-53% of the Victorian population. Membership is $70 for families and $35 for singles.
Revenue sources for the MAS were as follows:
| Membership | 27% |
 |
| Transport Fees | 14% |
|
| Govt Funding | 57% |
|
| Other | 2% |
(MAS ‘Response Report’, Metropolitan Ambulance Service, September Quarter, 1998)