In the Wimmera region each of the local government areas face their own set of emergency services challenges.

In Horsham, the average Code 1 response time decreased from 11 minutes and 39 seconds to 11 minutes and 20 seconds between the January-March quarter and the April-June quarter.

Code 1 incidents are when a patient requires urgent paramedic and hospital care and is given the "lights and sirens response".

In other parts of the Wimmera, the average Code 1 response time sits at around the 20 minute mark, with average times of 22 minutes and 15 seconds in the Yarriambiack Shire, 21 minutes and 26 seconds in the West Wimmera and 19 minutes and 33 seconds in Hindmarsh.

In the Wimmera the percentage of Code 1 incidents attended in less than or equal to 15 minutes is also an area of concern.

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In Horsham the response rate less than or equal to 15 minutes is 83.3 per cent, while in the other regions just 36.6 per cent of responses are within the time frame in Yarriambiack, 37.3 per cent in the West Wimmera and 51.9 per cent in Hindmarsh.

Ambulance Victoria has clearly defined Code 1 time targets, with a goal or response within 15 minutes for 85% of incidents state-wide and within 15 minutes for 90 per cent of incidents in centres with populations greater than 7500.

Across the state paramedics attended 84,441 time-critical cases between April and June, the highest demand on record for this time of year, and the second highest quarterly result in Victoria's history.

From April to June, paramedics attended 73.1% of Code 1 cases within 15 minutes, with a state-wide average response time of 13 minutes and 44 seconds.

Grampians Regional Director Chris James said the entire healthcare system was continuing to feel the impacts of COVID-19.

"Here in Grampians, we are dealing with an extraordinary workload, which is also being experienced by crews right across the state," Mr James said.

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"This is leading to congestion at hospitals, where lengthening transfer times at emergency departments are impacting on our crews being available to respond to the next person in need."

Mr James said several factors were contributing to the enormous demand, including underlying medical issues which were left untreated during the peak of the pandemic.

Along with the huge increase in time-critical cases, more than 37,000 calls to Triple Zero last quarter did not require an emergency response. A further 20,000 patients who received an ambulance did not require transport to hospital.

"Every call we get that is not an emergency impacts on our ability to get to people in the community who need us the most," Mr James said.

"We are asking every Victorian to work with us by saving Triple Zero for emergencies and seeing your GP or pharmacist early for advice or treatment."

In response to the increased demand More than 300 paramedics and registered nurses will join Ambulance Victoria in the next 12 months.

Secondary triage and telehealth mental health services, which both free up ambulances for emergencies by connecting patients with the help they need, will also be expanded as part of a $759 million state government investment.

Ambulance Victoria CEO Tony Walker said state government funding in the next 24 months would be used to bolster paramedic resources and implement demand easing initiatives across the state.

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