New Queensland Health data shows ambulance ramping increase

Ambulance ramping is continuing to plague overstretched hospitals across the state with the Cairns and Ipswich facilities recording a 12 per cent increase in a year.

AMBULANCE ramping is ­continuing to plague overstretched hospitals across the state, with some facilities
recording a 12 per cent increase in a year.

Queensland Health data for last December reveals an alarming number of
patients not being moved from ambulance stretchers within the 30-minute target.

In Cairns, 26 per cent of ­patients were forced to wait for a bed, up 12 per cent compared to December 2017.

State Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington (left) said the Labor government had broken its election promise to ­provide a better health system.

“Nurses, doctors, paramedics and midwives need more help,” she said.

Health Minister Steven Miles said more than 1.6 million patients visited an emergency department last ­financial year, up 17,000 on the previous year.

“Our paramedics, emergency department doctors and nurses are treating more patients than ever before,” Mr Miles said.