Victoria's health system experienced an extremely challenging winter – the first in a 'COVID normal' environment, with fewer restrictions to control the virus and reduce demand on health services.
The latest Victorian Health Services Performance Report shows some stabilisation in demand for emergency services after the extraordinary spike due to Omicron last summer, but demand remained very high from July to September.
Deputy CEO of the VHA Juan Paolo Legaspi said the number of code 1 'lights and sirens' ambulance call outs was the second highest on record, putting both Ambulance Victoria and hospitals under enormous pressure. On top of that, the elective surgery waiting list was around double the level Victoria managed before the pandemic.
'This was the first time since the beginning of the pandemic that our hospitals had to cope with high demand for emergency department care as well as a full load of elective surgery patients. Before this, the suspension of some elective surgery created more space for emergency patients needing a bed
