Queensland among the nation’s best performing ambulance service

• The QAS responded to over 1.2 million incidents in 2022-23 and transported over 1 million patients.
• Queensland ranked first in the country for ambulance response times compared to states of a similar size and scale.
• 93.4 percent of Triple Zero (000) calls were answered within 10 seconds.
• The QAS continued to see an improvement in Code 1A ‘most critical’ patients response times compared to the previous financial year, despite a continued increase in demand.

The Miles Government’s record investment in ambulance services is paying off, with the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) among the best performing in the country.

The independent Report on Government Services 2024, prepared by the national Productivity Commission, showed Queenslanders were receiving exceptional pre-hospital care.

The QAS was the busiest ambulance service in the country, responding to 1,235,992 incidents in the 2022-23 and transporting of over 1.1 million patients in the financial year.

This meant that for every 1,000 people in Queensland, the QAS responded to 229.8 incidents – by far the highest rate when compared to every other state and territory, such as New South Wales (129.1 incidents per 1,000 people), and Victoria (157.0 incidents per 1,000 people). 

Despite this incredible demand placed on the QAS, Queensland still ranked first in the country for ambulance response times compared to other states of a similar size and scale (NSW, Victoria, and South Australia).

The median wait time for an ambulance was just 12.5 minutes, and 90% of Queenslanders who called an ambulance received one in under 25.2 minutes. This meant that Queensland was either on par with, or better than, the national averages for wait times.

In addition, 93.4% of 000 calls were answered within 10 seconds.

Not only are Queenslanders getting an ambulance faster, but 97.3% of surveyed patients reported very high or high trust and confidence in paramedics and their ability to provide quality care and treatment.

The Report on Government Services 2024 also shows QAS has the highest number of ambulance officers per 100,000 people at 75.2 and the lowest clinical attrition rate at 2.8 percent.

The Miles Government’s record investment in ambulance services will continue to support the hardworking ambulance operatives as they deliver free, world-class pre-hospital health care to Queenslanders no matter where they live.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services and Minister for Women:

“It’s no secret demand for ambulance services has increased significantly across the country and Queensland is not immune.

“Our hard-working paramedics dedicate their lives to helping their fellow Queenslanders in their time of need, and I want to take this opportunity to thank them for what they do.

“In 2022-23, the QAS responded to over 1.2 million incidents across the state and transported over 1 million patients, far more than any other State or Territory.

“Of those incidents, 531,885 were Code 1 emergency incidents – more than any other state or territory – and an increase of over 25,000 incidents compared to the previous financial year.

“Despite this, Queenslanders can be confident that their ambulance service has some of the best response times in all of Australia.

“Code 1A cases – the most critical – were also responded to sooner than they were in the previous financial year.

“All of these improvements are despite a continued increase in demand for ambulance services.

“It shows the care of Queensland’s most critical patients is being appropriately prioritised.

“Our ambulance service is leading the nation, and it is because of our incredible frontline staff and the investment that our Government is making in them.

“We continue to be the only mainland state in the country that provides ambulance services for free, and this is something that will never change under a Labor Government.

ENDS

Radio Grabs: https://www.dropbox.com/t/1rUoT8no0Zh8maMf

Media Contact: Phoenix Campbell 0439 949 719