Tatura’s first ambulance branch opens

Doors have opened on Tatura’s first ever ambulance branch, meaning faster response times in medical emergencies for the people of Tatura and Greater Shepparton.

Located in the heart of town, the modern ambulance branch has been purpose-built with state-of-the-art training facilities. The $2 million branch includes a four-bay garage, fully fitted kitchen, training room, rest and recline areas and staff car parking.

Emergency ambulance services to Tatura were previously provided by ambulances based in the nearby areas of Murchison, Mooroopna and Shepparton.

Victoria’s first Heart Safe Community

Tatura has become Victoria’s first ever Heart Safe Community. A Heart Safe Community is one where members of the public understand what to do in the first few minutes of a person collapsing.

These actions include:

• quickly recognising a cardiac arrest
• calling 000 immediately
• performing CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
• using an AED (automatic external defibrillator).

The program is an Ambulance Victoria and Heart Foundation initiative that aims to increase a person’s chance of survival if they suffer a cardiac arrest outside of hospital.

In the first 18 months of the program, 25 per cent of the Tatura community (1,055 people) received training in CPR and using a defibrillator.

There are now 26 registered defibrillators in the community including seven that are publicly accessible 24-hours a day.

Improving Victoria’s ambulance services

The new Tatura ambulance branch will make a big difference to response times in Greater Shepparton.

According to the latest data, Ambulance Victoria recorded the best ever Code 1 response times across the state for the June quarter. Ambulances arrived at Code 1 emergencies in the City of Greater Shepparton within an average of 10.14 minutes in the June quarter, an improvement on 11.16 minutes in the same period 12 months prior.

Tatura’s new $2 million ambulance branch is part of the Victorian Government’s $500 million investment in improving ambulance response times, employing more paramedics, buying new vehicles and building more stations.

You can learn more about the Ambulance Victoria upgrades project via our dedicated project page.