Ambulances spent 2281 hours stuck in hospital carparks, new data reveals

Ambulances spent thousands of hours stuck in carparks last month according to new data that reveals a series of frightening new records.

Ambulance ramping spiralled to a whopping 2281 hours lost last month, as February, March and April all set consecutive new records for ambulances stuck in hospital car parks.

In April 2020 — the self-imposed deadline officials had set to end ramping at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital — transfer of care hours lost was just 493 amid the early impact of COVID but this April it more than quadrupled in comparison.

The record of hours lost shows a steady upward trajectory and has jumped alarmingly this year.

The resulting lack of ambulances available for other emergencies and patients stuck in hospital carparks was at the centre of the recent industrial dispute between the ambulance union and the government which ended with the promise of 74 extra ambulance officers.

Health Minister Stephen Wade. Picture: Mike Burton

This year’s data was finally released after Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade promised to do so in parliament after questions from the Opposition.

Last year’s highest figure was 1755 hours recorded in August when winter chills see a rise in demand.

However, this year saw ramping hit 1719 hours in January, 1992 hours in February, then 2098 hours in March and 2281 hours in April.

This is still better than some other states such as WA where hours lost hit 4099 in March.

In April 2018, a month after the Liberals won office and before any COVID impact, there were 1132 hours lost.

Opposition health spokesman Chris Picton said ramping had doubled under the Liberals to reach record levels.

“Now we can see why Steven Marshall was trying to keep these numbers secret, this data reveals ramping is out of control under the Marshall Liberal Government,” he said.

“It is shocking that each of the past three months has seen a new record broken for ramping in this state.

Ramping at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in February Picture: Supplied

Ramping has been pictured at hospitals across the state.

“In April alone, ambulances were ramped for more than 70 hours per day on average. The blame lies squarely with Steven Marshall and Stephen Wade – they have cut $11m from our ambulance service over the past two years.

“SA is the only state to cut ambulance funding, according to the Commonwealth Productivity Commission. Rather than ending ramping as they promised, the Liberals have doubled ramping and made it permanent.”

Mr Wade said the “former Labor Government brought ramping to South Australia … it wasn’t long ago that the former Labor Government cut beds, downgraded services at our hospitals and closed the Repat entirely.

He said there are more doctors, nurses, midwives and ambulance officers in South Australia than ever before as well as new community care options as an alternative to hospital.

Mr Wade said initiatives underway will see a 65 per cent boost in treatment spaces across redeveloped metropolitan and peri-urban emergency departments, with an extra 138 treatment spaces in EDs and emergency extended care units including:

TRANSFORMING the Flinders Medical Centre ED into the state’s biggest, growing it by 30 treatment spaces to 86 spaces;

ALMOST doubling the number of beds in the Lyell McEwin Hospital ED from 39 treatment spaces to 72;

ADDING 15 ED treatment spaces as part of the $314m redevelopment of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital;

ADDING 45 treatment spaces at Modbury, Mount Barker, Murray Bridge, Gawler and the Southern Fleurieu Health Service in Victor Harbor.