Rural Victorians suffering from cardiac arrest will benefit from a multi-million dollar roll-out of new life-saving equipment in country ambulances.
Visiting Geelong MICA Ambulance Station today, Health Minister Daniel Andrews said all rural and regional ambulances are now fitted with the latest state-of-the-art defibrillators.
“The Brumby Government is taking action to deliver the highest-quality ambulance services to communities across Victoria,” Mr Andrews said.
“This Government has allocated $3.38 million so 300 new defibrillators could be installed in rural ambulances and frontline vehicles.”
Mr Andrews said the new defibrillators will benefit paramedics and patients with improved technology and a more rapid delivery of a shock in the event of a cardiac arrest.
"The new defibrillators will benefit paramedics and patients with improved technology and a more rapid delivery of a shock in the event of a cardiac arrest."
“The new defibrillators also have clearer and more detailed on-screen information and improved ability to view cardiac electrical activity,” he said.
“Additional functions can also be built into the new defibrillators such as blood pressure monitoring, tools to measure carbon dioxide and oxygen in the blood and additional electrocardiograph capacity to diagnose a heart attack.”
The new high-tech Phillips MRX cardiac monitor defibrillators, costing $11,000 per unit, replace the older model defibrillators that had been in use for the past nine years.
In further good news for Geelong residents, Mr Andrews said the Brumby Government funded a MICA single responder unit for Geelong in this year’s State Budget.
“Significant capital works will be completed during 2008/09 in the Geelong area, including construction of new ambulance stations at Lara and Belmont and the refurbishment of the Norlane Branch,” he said.
“Previous investments in the area have included new 24-hour stations at Torquay and Ocean Grove, upgraded crewing at Lorne and new MICA and additional paramedics at Geelong.”
Member for Geelong Ian Trezise MLA said the Brumby Government continues its commitment to expand and upgrade ambulance services for all Victorians.
“The Brumby Government recently announced the biggest boost to ambulance services in Victoria’s history, a $186 million investment including two new medical helicopters and 59 new and upgraded services that will be rolled out across 48 towns and suburbs across Victoria,” he said.
“Our Government understands how important ambulance services are to Victorians, and that is why we are delivering record funding and why we have reformed ambulance services to put patients first.”