THE state government has been challenged on its claims of improved ambulance response times, with recent data showing results had fallen short of targets, including those in the local area.

Statewide ambulance transfer performance for October–December 2024 remained at 65–70 per cent, well below the government’s promised target of 90 per cent.

Shadow assistant minister for health Annabelle Cleeland said the government was failing to deliver and was instead blaming already overwhelmed hospitals.

“Instead of fixing the root causes within our health system, the government’s response has been to punish hospitals already struggling under immense pressure,” Ms Cleeland said.

“With inadequate resourcing, forced hospital amalgamations, service cuts, and overworked paramedics, the health minister has chosen to shift blame rather than implement real solutions.”

Ambulance response times for emergencies in the Euroa electorate also continued to miss targets.

The median response time for high priority, time critical incidents in the Strathbogie Shire was over 22 minutes.

Ms Cleeland also accused the government of avoiding scrutiny by failing to ensure full reporting of health agency data.

She said critical health service numbers had been incomplete for the second consecutive quarter, with figures missing from Albury Wodonga Health and Northern Health.

“Victorians have every right to ask 'what is Labor trying to hide?' ” Ms Cleeland said

“This is a government that fails to take responsibility for the adverse impact they are having on our health services, and it is patients across our state that are paying the price.”