Victoria's ambulance resources have been stretched as the state experienced an increase in calls for help and an influx of patients at hospital emergency departments over the Melbourne Cup weekend.

Ambulance Victoria issued a Code Orange alert on Saturday night indicating it was "extremely busy" in metropolitan Melbourne and in Greater Geelong and that paramedics could be delayed in arriving at non-critical calls. Loading Facebook content

Chief executive Jordan Emery said it followed several days of heightened demand.

"We saw a very high number of calls yesterday, close to 2,100," Mr Emery said.

"That's about 5 per cent more than what we would normally see, which might not seem like a lot, but it's well over 100 additional calls."

Mr Emery said there was also a higher number of pe

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