Eddie’s aunt sends angry message to Malinauskas in Liberals’ new Dunstan by-election ad

The aunt of a man who died after waiting 10-hours for an ambulance has delivered an emotional message ahead of the by-election. See the video.

The angry aunt of disabled man “Eddie” who died after waiting 10 hours for an ambulance in December has filmed a powerful video blaming Premier Peter Malinauskas for his death.

The Liberal Party has released it as an election advertisement as pre-poll voting opens in the Dunstan by-election. telling voters: “Don’t reward Labor’s failures.”

Hectorville man Eddie, 54, died in agony with abdominal pain after waiting more than 10 hours for ambulance.

It finally arrived within minutes of his call being upgraded to the most urgent category, but it was too late for paramedics to save him.

Opposition Leader David spears speaks to the media at Parliament House with Eddie’s Aunty Brenda and Uncle Steve. Picture: Ben Clark

A review of the incident which made seven recommendations blamed ramping as the “major contributing factor” and noted Eddie’s risk profile was “underappreciated.”

In the video, Brenda is seated in a lounge chair and calmly looks to the camera as though she is talking to Premier Peter Malinauskas and says: “My name is Brenda, I’m Eddie’s aunty.

“We are at a loss as why Eddie had to die this way. It was not necessary. He had to wait 10 hours for an ambulance.

“You promised South Australia you were going to fix the ramping.

“I’m sorry Mr Malinauskas you’ve failed. You’ve failed South Australia, you’ve failed me, you’ve failed my family and you, most of all, you failed Eddie.”

The screen then fades to black, with the words: “Don’t reward Labor’s failures. Send Labor a message at the Dunstan by-election.”

Eddie's aunty Brenda in a screenshot from the Dunstan by-election ad.

A note at the end says it is authorised by the Liberal Party of South Australia.

The ad comes as the Opposition noted February was the worst February on record for ramping and sixth worst month ever with 3757 hours lost, while the government says February was the best February in four years for ambulance response times.

While the government went to the election with its core promise to “fix” ramping, it now says this means to improve response times to patients, rather than clearing ambulances stuck in hospital care parks with patients.

A government spokesman said Opposition leader David Speirs was part of the Liberal government which cut ambulance funding three years in four.

“Labor is making the investments to turn these cuts around,” he said..

“And over the past two years, ambulance response times have dramatically improved.

“David Speirs can’t hide from these facts. The Liberals have no health policy of their own.”

On Monday Mr Malinauskas and Health Minister Chris Picton toured the new 150 bed wing opening at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in July which is expected to help ease ramping.

The new $314m clinical services building includes an expanded emergency department – almost 50 per cent larger than the current ED – containing 46 treatment bays and a three-bed rapid assessment zone intended to shorten patient waiting time.

The overall 52 new beds at the QEH in the project are part of the state government’s plan to open 550 new hospital beds.