Could ‘delayed’ patient care be behind rise in ambulance ramping?

Ramping is “phenomenon that’s been seen right across the nation” SA’s Health Minister says as authorities claim it may be an unexpected pandemic side effect.

A hangover from the coronavirus pandemic maybe fuelling dangerous levels of ambulance ramping by patients “delaying” their care, authorities have claimed.

The Advertiser revealed ambulances were ramped outside hospitals for a record 2281 hours – the equivalent of 95 days – last month after new records also set in February and March.

The hours lost to ramping show a steady upward trajectory and have jumped alarmingly this year.

This year’s data was finally released by Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade in parliament, in response to questions from the Opposition, which condemned the figures.

Speaking on Saturday, Mr Wade said ramping was a “phenomenon that’s been seen right across the nation”.

SA health minister Stephen Wade. Picture: Morgan Sette

The Opposition claimed it was government cuts that were behind the rise.

But Mr Wade said a recent meeting of the countries health ministers – representing both political parties – in Melbourne was “increased pressure on emergency departments right across Australia has been identified”.

He said it was not so much the increase in workload that was fuelling the problem, but “what seems to be happening is an increase in complexity”.

“One of the matters that was discussed … was whether this was a result of delayed care,” he said.

“During the height of the pandemic, people delayed their visit to a GP or delayed their visit to hospital ED.

“And now because of the delayed care, we’re seeing more people presenting to EDs. So works being done right across the nation to try and explain it.”

He said the government was spending more than $100 million to expand EDs in nine Metro and near country hospitals, which will mean a 60 per cent increase in treatment base.

Labor said each of the months of ramping is at least double the respective months in 2018.

Opposition health spokesman Chris Picton said the hospital crisis “follows significant cuts by the Marshall Liberal Government”.

“Now we can see why Steven Marshall was trying to keep these numbers secret,” he said.

“This data reveals ramping is out of control under the Marshall Liberal Government.

“The blame for this ramping crisis lies squarely with Steven Marshall and Stephen Wade – they have cut $11 million from our ambulance service over the past two years.”

In April 2020, which was the deadline officials had set to end ramping at the Royal Adelaide and Queen Elizabeth hospitals, just 493 hours were lost in the transfer of patient care from ambulance officers to emergency department staff.

This was, however, on the back of reduced demand due to COVID-19.

The resulting lack of ambulances available for other emergencies, and patients stuck in hospital carparks, was at the centre of a recent industrial dispute between the ambulance union and the government.

This ended last week with the promise of 74 extra ambulance officers and reform of key roster issues.

Mr Wade also said a “root cause” had yet to be identified for a computer bungle that started adding a digit to medication prescriptions, turning 10mg doses into 100mg doses.

No patient problems have not been reported to date.

SA Health has ordered an inquiry but officials do not know when the problem began or how many – if any – patients were given doses possibly 10 times the recommended strength.

As revealed exclusively on advertiser.com.au, the Sunrise computer system is intermittently replicating the last digit in some prescriptions.

Mr Wade said there were interim changes which he said were hoped to mitigate the risk of any further errors.

“But all staff are being asked to stay alert and to try and identify alongside the sunrise system itself, whether or not what is being dispensed is what the doctors prescribed,” he said.