‘Dire times’: Ambulance Victoria’s plea to the community

Ambulance Victoria is bracing to deal with 300 COVID-19 positive patients, per day, from next week.

And paramedics aren’t expecting much respite, if any, until next year.

“These are dire times, and I think people in the community need to understand that,” Associate Professor Mick Stephenson, executive director of clinical operations at Ambulance Victoria, told Neil Mitchell on Friday.

He said resources were already stretched, with the worst yet to come.

“About 20 per cent of people who are COVID-19 positive will ultimately call an ambulance,” Mr Stephenson said.

“Not all are transported, but about 75/80 per cent of (that 20 per cent) are.

“We are expecting things to get considerably worse next week.”

Press PLAY below to hear him explain

Picture: Getty iStock