NO ambulances available, many stuck, and a local left waiting with a taxi offered as the only option. This was the chaotic reality in Shepparton last week, according to Member for Northern Victoria Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, who slammed the State Government’s decision to cut funding from ambulance services in the recent budget.
Mrs Tyrrell raised the issue after reports surfaced of up to nine ambulances were ramped at Goulburn Valley Health for up to nine hours last week, ironically on the same day Treasurer Tim Pallas announced a $20M cut in ambulance services in the State Budget.
“While ambulance ramping is caused by several factors, the reality is that on Budget Day last week there was not a single ambulance available in Shepparton, Numurkah or Tatura for several hours because they were all stuck at GV Health,” Mrs Tyrrell said.
“It is unacceptable that at the same time the Treasurer announced a cut of $20 million in ambulance services for the 2024-25 financial year.”
Addressing the Minister for Emergency Services Jaclyn Symes, Mrs Tyrrell said that a constituent called an ambulance on the day in question but was told none were available and was offered for a taxi to be called to take him to hospital.
“Ambulance wait times are longer than ever and our dedicated paramedics need more funding, not less,” Mrs Tyrrell said.
“My job is to represent my constituents and they want to know when will the Allan Labor Government [will] stop putting lives at risk and fix our ambulance crisis.”
