The Brumby Government needs to re-introduce lower target times for ambulances attending children with severe allergic reactions said Helen Shardey, Shadow Minister for Health.

“Children who suffer life-threatening allergic reactions are on the rise and it is imperative all child care centres, kindergartens and schools establish an anaphylaxis management plan.

“What is unclear at this stage is whether it is compulsory for every school and children’s service to have an anaphylactic plan and staff training, or only those where children who suffer such reactions attend.

“This could potentially emerge as a problem given that many children change school, kinder or child care centre during any given year.

“I welcome the Premier’s announcement yesterday addressing children suffering severe allergic reactions; however I am concerned that recent events of ambulance breakdowns and mechanical problems will put the lives of children at risk.

“The Premier needs to also address the issue of ambulance response times.

“For five years the state government has failed to meet the 13 minute Code 1 response time.

“While it is vital to have trained people and an anaphylaxis plan to ensure children with an allergy risk can receive urgent treatment, it is equally as important that an ambulance be called immediately as a ‘PRIORITY ZERO’.

“This is the most urgent call out to get a child to hospital as soon as possible.

“I call on the Brumby Government to re-introduce the 13 minute target for Code 1 to ensure children who have a life-threatening allergic reaction can be assessed as to the cardiac effect of the Epi-pen and receive further urgent treatment in hospital.

“Instead of adding more resources to the ambulance service, the state government disgracefully increased the time of the target and lowered the standard to 15 minutes.

“This is too long and unacceptable for people in urgent need, especially children suffering allergic reactions,” said Mrs Shardey.