| PARAMEDICS TO CONTINUE IN KINGLAKE
Friday, 21 May 2010
New and upgraded ambulance services in Kinglake and Whittlesea will continue to provide vital services to the local community, Health Minister Daniel Andrews said today. Visiting Kinglake with Member for Seymour Ben Hardman and Member for Yan Yean Danielle Green, Mr Andrews said a $6.5 million investment would see additional paramedics who started after the 2009 bushfires continue in Kinglake and Whittlesea.
“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to ensure bushfire affected residents in the Kinglake and Whittlesea area have access to high quality ambulance services,’” Mr Andrews said.
“The Kinglake community will continue to receive a professional ambulance resource response with a two-officer paramedic peak period unit operating a 10-hour shift.
“In addition, the Whittlesea service will continue providing 24-hour services to Whittlesea and cover the out-of-hours roster for Kinglake and surrounding areas.”
Mr Andrews said that since September 2001, the Kinglake area had been well served by a dedicated and very high performing Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
“The Kinglake CERT plays a valuable role in providing early response and assistance in the community, well demonstrated by their response during and after the devastating Black Saturday bushfires,” he said.
“That is why the Brumby Government, through our 2009/10 State Budget, provided $6.5 million to enable the temporary services, put into place to support Kinglake and Whittlesea, to continue as permanent services for this region.”
Mr Andrews said the Brumby Labor Government was strongly committed to providing quality ambulance services across Victoria.
“We have more than tripled funding for ambulance services, and doubled the number of paramedics working throughout Victoria,” Mr Andrews said.
“Two years ago, our Government invested $186 million to provide 258 extra paramedics to deliver 59 new or upgraded ambulance services in towns and suburbs throughout Victoria.
“This has delivered 100 new and upgraded services throughout Victoria, including additional paramedics in Alexandra, Seymour, Kilmore, Diamond Creek, and Craigieburn.”
Mr Hardman said the funding and services would enable the ambulance crews to continue their valuable and important work, right across the community.
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