Our Performance
Ambulance provided over 1,118,000 total responses (both emergency and non-emergency) in 2007/08, equivalent to a call for assistance every 28 seconds. This average number of responses per day increased by 5.9 per cent on 2006/07. Over the last two years demand has increased by 14 per cent. Factors leading to increased demand include growth in the total NSW population and an ageing population with associated increasing rates of illnesses. In common with other health providers, Ambulance demand increases during the winter months.
External pressures, including a continual growth in demand for ambulance services continue to impact on response performance. The improvements in response times follow the full implementation of the Medical Priority Dispatch System and ongoing and new strategies related to the Sustainable Access Program.
Our workload is increasing, with Ambulance recording a
21.3 per cent increase in demand for ambulance services since
2002.