Horsham Rural City has the fastest ambulance code one first response times in the region. 

The average time for an ambulance to reach the scene of a code one emergency improved from 11.13 minutes in the June quarter last year to 10.49 minutes in the current quarter. 

The number of ambulance responses within less than 15 minutes in Horsham decreased by 0.2 per cent this year compared to the previous period. 

Ararat Rural City has the next fastest ambulance response times in the region. 

Ambulances arriving within 15 minutes for code one emergencies in Ararat increased from 62.2 per cent in the June quarter of last year, to 70.8 per cent this year. 

The average time for an ambulance to reach the scene of a code one emergency in Ararat during the same period has improved from 17.10 minutes to 13.30 minutes.

Ambulance Victoria’s Grampians regional director Chris James said the response times in Horsham and Ararat were consistent. 

“We are encouraged by our response times,” he said. “We are better equipped and resourced.” 

Conversely, ambulance response times within Northern Grampians Shire are the slowest in the region. 

Ambulances arriving within 15 minutes for code one emergencies increased from 56.3 per cent in the June quarter of last year, to 58.3 per cent this year. 

The average ambulance response times for code one emergencies has decreased by nearly one minute in the Northern Grampians – from 15.25 minutes in the June quarter of last year to 16.12 for the same time this year. 

“The region is subject to fluctuation,” Mr James said. 

“We understand more needs to be done to meet community expectations. These are the best results we’ve had in the last 10 years.”  

Across the state paramedics responded to 83.8 per cent of time-critical code one patients within 15 minutes. This is a 2.7 per cent improvement to the same period last year. 

Member for Western Victoria Jaala Pulford said these results were great news. 

“Ambulances are arriving faster at emergencies and hospitals are better equipped to give patients the high-quality care that they deserve,” she said.