Ambulance ramping crisis spreads across Australia

Ramping isn’t just a South Australian problem. Now it’s sparked a new national row over how to get the health system working like it should.

A national shortage of general practitioners is putting the crunch on Australian hospitals, with several states now joining South Australia’s fight against a worrying ambulance crisis that is on a collision course with the federal government.

Deadly ambulance delays across the country have reignited debate about public hospital funding, with SA and Tasmania leading a push for a permanent 50-50 split.

State Health Minister Chris Picton said on Sunday that “significant investment and reform” was urgently needed across Medicare and primary health to improve access to GPs.

“In the past week, I have had meetings with doctors in our metropolitan hospitals and GPs in the country who all describe the increasingly difficult state of affairs for GP accessibility and how it is impacting upon hospitals,” he said.

“It’s as simple as this – people are finding it increasingly difficult to see a doctor, and when their condition gets worse they have no other option but to get hospital-level care.”

Health Minister Chris Picton said people were left with no other option but to get hospital-level care due to issues accessing GPs. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Picture Emma Brasier

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler is banking on Labor’s $750m Strengthening Medicare Taskforce to drive significant public health reform and help solve the ramping crisis gripping much of the nation, while NDIS Minister Bill Shorten has set new targets for discharging patients in hospital who are waiting for disability care.

“The Albanese government is working with the states to take pressure off our public hospitals with almost $1bn of investment in general practice and strengthening Medicare,” Mr Butler said.

The GP crisis is so dire that some rural SA towns are offering up to $750,000 a year to lure experienced doctors.

Worsening the issue are Medicare rebates lagging behind the inflation rate, making bulk-billing increasingly unsustainable for GP clinics.

The SA, Western Australia, NSW and Queensland governments cite a lack of GPs as a driving force behind significant hospital pressures.

Dr John Williams, vice-president of the SA branch of the Australian Medical Association, said medicine graduates were shunning careers in general practice.

“We know that the number of medical students going into general practice has dropped drastically because it is seen as difficult and under remunerated,” he said.

As attention turns towards the October federal budget, Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff has made a new plea for a permanent 50-50 public hospital funding split with the federal government.

Tasmanian Premier and Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff has reignited debate about a 50-50 public hospital funding split. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“In managing the unpredictable changes to hospital activity, all states and territories agree that the current national funding model does not reflect the actual cost of delivering hospital services,” Mr Rockliff said.

“Health funding reform is currently a significant priority and along with my state and territory colleagues, Tasmania is advocating for a more equitable funding arrangement.”

Mr Picton welcomed the federal government’s commitment to footing half the bill for a $400m Flinders Medical Centre upgrade but said he would continue pushing for a permanent 50-50 split.

“We advocated for 50-50 funding before coming to government and continue to hold this position,” he said.

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