Ambulance Victoria: The future

The 2008 State Government budget represented a landmark in the delivery of ambulance care to Victorians.

The announcement, made on 21 April, contained $185.7m in statewide funding. The funding included a new ambulance helicopter for south west Victoria, a dedicated retrieval helicopter to bring critically ill or injured adults, children or babies from regional hospitals to specialist care in Melbourne as well as funding for 260 new paramedics and the introduction of more than 20 new ambulance teams.

In addition to the funding, the very way the state's ambulance services work was proposed to be changed with Metropolitan Ambulance Service and Rural Ambulance Victoria becoming one organisation, Ambulance Victoria. On 26 May this decision was confirmed, with one service to commence operation on 1 July.

See what Victoria's Health Minister, Hon. Daniel Andrews thinks what the one service will mean for Victorians:

Additional resources on this announcement:

MAS media release 21 April 2008: Victoria's ambulance services to become one

MAS media release 21 April 2008: Record funding announcement for ambulance

MAS media release 21 April 2008: Lift off for new air ambulance services

Premier of Victoria 21 April 2008: $185.7m boost to Victorian ambulance services

Premier of Victoria 21 April 2008: Two new helicopters for Victorian ambulance services

DHS Consultation paper: Future of ambulance service delivery in Victoria

Minister of Health 26 May 2008: Ambulance Victoria to lead the way

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