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.

Originally published as New Queensland Health data shows ambulance ramping increase