Ambo ramping improves by mere minutes as ED wait times stagnate

The state government has been criticised for releasing incomplete hospital data nearly two months early that shows ambulance ramping has slightly improved.

Ambulance ramping in Brisbane.

Ambulance ramping has dropped slightly, according to new health data, with paramedics now losing an average of 13 minutes outside of emergency departments compared to 17 minutes last year.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman has drawn criticism from the Opposition after releasing the hospital data nearly two months early, meaning the latest figures include July and August only instead of a full quarter.

Ms Fentiman said a decision had been made to release the data early ahead of the October election.

Emergency department presentations have increased to 403,561 – up 13,595 compared to the same two-month period last year.

Wait times inside EDs remained unchanged at an average 15 minutes, with 276,841 patients seen in time.

An average 43.1 per cent of patients are able to get from an ambulance and into an emergency department within the recommended 30 minute time frame, and improvement of 1.6 per cent compared to last quarter.

Minister for Health Shannon Fentiman.

Ms Fentiman said the ramping data was the biggest improvement seen by Queensland hospitals in 18 months

“It might not sound like a lot, but that means 1000s and 1000s of Queenslanders are getting transferred off the stretcher more quickly into our EDS,” she said.

But Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said the incomplete data set had been “sanitised” and called on the government to release the full figures next week.

“We want the September quarter released in full, not sanitised, not changed, released in full,” he said.

“That is completely achievable, and that will give us the baseline to be able to map our future targets.”

The LNP have vowed to bring ambulance ramping down “year-on-year” but have not set a specific target.

“It cannot stay at the mid 40s,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“The minister said by now it would be under 28 per cent and it’s not moving.”

The state government on Thursday announced a $1.3bn would be spent on increasing the scope of six existing hospital expansions in Ipswich, Ipswich, Hervey Bay, Cairns and the Princess Alexandra and QEII Hospitals.

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli. Pic: Liam Kidston

Ms Fentiman said the extra $1.3bn to be split among the hospital upgrade projects would be spent on improving ramp times.

“If we can boost medical imaging at some of our biggest hospitals, that means people are going to get their tests done more quickly, move through ED more quickly, and that means people are going to get off the ambulance stretcher more quickly,” she said.

Contracts totalling over $3.5bn were awarded today for upgrades to Ipswich Hospital ($1bn), Logan Hospital ($874m), Princess Alexandra Hospital ($748m), QEII Hospital ($619m), Cairns Hospital ($171m) and Hervey Bay Hospital ($94m).

QEII Hospital upgrades saw an additional $619m, Cairns Hospital $171m and the Hervey Bay Hospital expansion $94.