Man dies waiting five hours for an ambulance amid record ramping in SA

As ramping rocketed in SA, an elderly man was left waiting more than five hours for help – and when it finally arrived it was too late to save his life.

A man has died in a tragedy linked to record ramping.

The Advertiser understands a triple-0 call for help to an aged care facility in the north eastern suburbs was left unattended for more than five hours as the patient deteriorated.

When a paramedic crew finally arrived it was too late to save the elderly man’s life.

The nearest ambulance station was just over 1km away at Campbelltown.

The tragedy on July 10 came in a month where ramping rocketed to a record 5539 hours lost, smashing May’s record of 4773 hours despite the state government’s election promise to “fix” ramping.

It is understood the call for help initially was listed as a priority 3, then upgraded to priority 2 – attendance expected within 16 minutes – then the most urgent priority 1 – attendance expected within eight minutes.

It came on a day when the ambulance service was dealing with high demand and extended ramping, resulting to delays to attend calls.

A man has died waiting five hours for an ambulance amid record ramping in SA Picture: NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

Ambulance Employees Association state secretary Leah Watkins. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

SA Ambulance Service confirmed there was a delay but was unable to elaborate on details of the incident, releasing a short statement in response to questions from The Advertiser.

“There was a delay in attending to a patient in a Residential Aged Care Facility,” it states.

“Our thoughts are with the family and care workers.

“The case has been referred to the Coroner so we are unable to comment further.”

The death came in a month when other ramping records were broken, including the longest person ramped – an 83-year-old woman stuck in the Royal Adelaide car park for 12.5 hours.

On the same night, other patients were ramped for 12, 11 and 9.5 hours, according to the Ambulance Employees Association.

Union state secretary Leah Watkins said paramedics “feel like they are playing Russian roulette” stuck in car parks caring for patients in pain while also listening to unattended emergency calls — and wondering if the person will have died by the time they are free to attend.

“Our members are gravely concerned that we are again reaching similar conditions that existed in early 2022; delays to emergency cases in the community, and delays getting critically unwell patients into hospitals,” she said.

“This an absolute tragedy. This is the exact reason we fight so hard for a rapid offload of ambulances at hospitals.

“They need to be freed up to respond to emergencies in the community. That is what they are trained to do. Every one of us deserve a chance of an ambo saving our lives in our hour of need.

“This is why it is so important that SA Health ensure policies are enforced to ensure ambulance availability to attend those in the community who have no support.”

Health Minister Chris Picton said he extended his “deepest condolences” to the man’s family.

“This has been referred to the Coroner and I will ensure that SA Ambulance Service and SA Health provide full co-operation to any Coronial investigation,” he said in a statement.

Mr Picton said the government was “focused on improving ambulance response times” and an increasing number of people in life threatening situations are getting an ambulance on time — but there are still more investments to make to improve response times further.

The Opposition’s John Gardner said: “This is another tragic death that will shock many South Australians. Our health system is in crisis under Labor – a direct reflection on Peter Malinauskas’ failed promise to ‘fix’ ramping. Under Labor, 5,539 hours were lost to ramping in July – a grim record figure. Peter Malinauskas must take responsibility and ‘fix’ ramping like Labor promised before the State Election before we see more avoidable tragedies.”

Ambulances parked at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Ramping Picture: NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

Tweet of SA Labor saying it will fix ramping in November 2021

Last December disabled Hectorville man “Eddie” died in agony after waiting more than 10 hours for an 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.

The crisis comes despite the state government ploughing billions of extra dollars into the health system with more ambulances, paramedics, new and upgraded ambulance stations, clinicians and plans to open hundreds more hospital beds.