New ambulance service to improve patient care in Shepparton

By Rosa Ritchie

Nov 15, 2021

Excited: Mae Deveson, Julia Clarke, Sarah Rhodes and Brent Law are looking forward to getting started in a new Shepparton-based Ambulance Victoria crew. Photo by Rodney Braithwaite

Ambulance Victoria launched a new service in Shepparton on Monday, November 15, with a team of five paramedics dedicated to attending less-urgent emergency calls, to free up more ambulances for the most critically ill patients.

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Shepparton-based Ambulance Victoria acting team manager Mae Deveson said it was a good initiative, and a good stepping stone for recent graduates like Julia Clarke, who joined the team on Friday.

Ms Clarke graduated from university in December last year and was excited to get started in her new role.

She had her first observer shift on Friday, before diving into her first day of work on Monday, the same day as the launch of the Medium Acuity Transport Service (MATS).

The new service is part of a two-year trial which began in Melbourne in September with great success.

Metropolitan MATS crews respond to about 60 cases a day, according to Ambulance Victoria Hume acting regional director Narelle Capp.

“This is exciting news for our paramedics in Shepparton, as we’ve seen real benefits coming from the MATS crews in Melbourne,” Ms Capp said.

“With up to 15 crews on the road each day in metro, MATS crews have responded to 2320 emergency incidents in their first month of operation.

“That is a lot of time saved for other paramedic crews to respond to the most critical cases, so it’s good to see this benefit being extended to the regions.”

Geelong, Belmont, Traralgon, Wonthaggi, Wendouree and Eaglehawk will also receive the new style of service delivery.

Across Victoria, the MATS service is made up of 22 vehicles and 165 dedicated staff providing the very best response to Code 2 and Code 3 patients seeking treatment for things like a broken leg, or ongoing back pain with no recent injury.

The MATS crew in Shepparton will operate from 9am to 11pm daily.

There was a 14.5 per cent increase in life-threatening Code 1 cases in the Greater Shepparton LGA in the first quarter of 2021-22, compared to the same period last year, according to Ambulance Victoria.

“Here in Hume, we are dealing with an extraordinary workload, which is also being experienced by crews right across the state,” Ms Capp said.

“The MATS teams will free up more paramedics to respond to the most time-critical emergency cases in these challenging times as demand continues to increase due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“MATS teams have also responded to several time-critical cases where they have been the closest available unit, ensuring patients who are in life-threatening situations receive urgent care.”

Ms Capp said the unique service partnered paramedic recruits with experienced paramedics.

Ms Clarke’s new role in Shepparton is a prime example.

“This gives an opportunity for our senior paramedics to impart invaluable knowledge gained through their years of experience to their new colleagues,” Ms Capp said.

“At the same time, it provides an enriching on-the-job educational experience and additional pathway for new paramedics.”

Ms Capp said the MATS teams were one of the first steps in Ambulance Victoria’s plan to improve ambulance performance and patient care, with the help of a $759 million Victorian Government investment.

“On top of MATS, we are also recruiting 56 on-road paramedics to deliver additional services in rural Victoria,“ Ms Capp said.

Meanwhile, paramedics in Yarrawonga and Mansfield will be on shift and responding to life-threatening medical emergencies all day, every day, thanks to an upgrade of local ambulance services.

Ms Capp said both ambulance branches would be converted from paramedics being ‘on call’ overnight to providing 24-hour coverage from Monday, November 15.