Ambulance Emergency Response Time is the period between when a Triple Zero (000) emergency call is recorded by us and the time the first ambulance resource arrives at the scene in a life-threatening case. In Australia, the 50th percentile response time is a key measure, allowing our performance to be compared with other states.
In 2011/12 the 50th percentile (median) response time for potentially life-threatening cases was 10.93 minutes for the State (this means that at least 50 per cent of potentially life threatening cases were responded to within 10.93 minutes).
The change in response performance is primarily due to higher demand and longer off stretcher times which limited the overall availability of ambulances to respond.
The 50th percentile response time for the highest priority cases is shown below.
Control Centre call answering performance
The table below shows the percentage of emergency calls (from Triple Zero "000") answered by each of Ambulances four Control Centres within 10 seconds and 45 seconds.
|
Control Centre
|
Calls Answered in 10 sec (%)
|
Calls Answered in 45 sec (%)
|
|
Sydney
|
91.70
|
98.83
|
|
Northern
|
91.54
|
98.79
|
|
Southern
|
90.73
|
98.71
|
|
Western
|
89.77
|
98.73
|
|
Total
|
91.93
|
98.80
|
In 2011/12, 91.4 per cent of emergency calls were answered in 10 seconds. By 45 seconds 98.8 per cent of emergency calls were answered.
Aeromedical Activity
In addition to road ambulance responses the Ambulance Service tasks 4 fixed wing aircraft and 9 helicopters.
Fixed Wing are aircraft are located in Sydney (Sydney Airport) and Dubbo.
Helicopters are located at Lismore, Newcastle, Tamworth, Sydney (3), Orange, Wollongong and Canberra
Fixed Wing
In 2011 - 2012 the fixed wing fleet transported 6545 patients; 330 more patients than the previous year. The activity for the last 4 years is illustrated below.
Helicopter
In 2011 - 2012 the helicopter network undertook a total of 3481 mission, a similar number to last year. There were 1646 responses to accidents and rescues and 1791 interhospital transfers. Overall helicopter mission number a remaining constant. This is because more patients are being taken directly to the hospital that can provide their definitive care and not require a second transfer. The activity for the last 4 years is illustrated below.
Helicopter Response Time
Helicopter emergency response time is the period between the helicopter being tasked and the time the helicopter takes-off.
Like all aircraft aviation planning is required before a helicopter can take off.
The 50th percentile response time for emergency rescue and accident incidents is the key measure. The expected response time performance is 15 minutes during the day and 30 minutes at night.
The day & night time performance is illustrated below.
|
Day time performance
|
2009-10
|
2010-11
|
2011-12
|
|
Sydney
|
9 minutes
|
9 minutes
|
9 minutes
|
|
Wollongong
|
10 minutes
|
10 minutes
|
9 minutes
|
|
Orange
|
9 minutes
|
8 minutes
|
10 minutes
|
|
Canberra*
|
20 minutes
|
14 minutes
|
15 minutes
|
|
Lismore
|
12 minutes
|
13 minutes
|
12 minutes
|
|
Newcastle
|
9 minutes
|
10 minutes
|
10 minutes
|
|
Tamworth
|
8 minutes
|
9 minutes
|
8 minutes
|
|
|
|
Night time performance
|
2009-10
|
2010-11
|
2011-12
|
|
Sydney
|
10 minutes
|
12 minutes
|
10 minutes
|
|
Wollongong
|
10 minutes
|
12 minutes
|
12 minutes
|
|
Orange**
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|
Canberra*
|
27 minutes
|
26 minutes
|
26 minutes
|
|
Lismore
|
18 minutes
|
17 minutes
|
20 minutes
|
|
Newcastle
|
11 minutes
|
12 minutes
|
14 minutes
|
|
Tamworth**
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|
|
* Orange and Tamworth are daytime only services.
Helicopter Availability
Like all aircraft, helicopters require regular maintenance to ensure safety and performance. The contract arrangements between the Ambulance Service and its helicopter providers allow for helicopters to be offline for maintenance for a prescribed period each month. The allowed time varies between 20 hours per month to 144 hours per month depending on the requirements of individual contracts.
The average monthly offline time for each service is given in the following table.
|
|
Average monthly offline time (hours)
|
2009-10
|
2010-11
|
2011-12
|
|
Sydney Helicopter 1
|
10.9
|
45.3
|
78
|
|
Sydney Helicopter 2
|
13.0
|
27.3
|
166
|
|
Wollongong
|
26.4
|
22.3
|
42.5
|
|
Orange
|
8.7
|
11.0
|
47.8
|
|
Canberra*
|
17.6
|
18.6
|
47.1
|
|
Lismore
|
56.9
|
17.8
|
26
|
|
Newcastle
|
18.7
|
15.1
|
11.4
|
|
Tamworth
|
48.2
|
20.9
|
10.8
|
|
|
The increase in the offline time for many helicopters was due to a world wide problem with one of the aircraft types used by the Ambulance service, the AW 139. This meant that some aircraft were offline for many months whilst the aircraft manufactures rectified the problem and produced new aircraft parts which then needed to be fitted to the aircraft. The Ambulance Service received priority being an emergency service.
|