Ambulance ramping at southeast Queensland hospitals is worsening

Queensland’s hospitals are struggling with overcrowding, with new figures revealing the shocking extent of their ambulance ramping problem.

AMBULANCE ramping has hit its worst level at Queensland hospitals since at least November 2017, with almost a third of patients presenting to emergency departments having to wait on stretchers.

In July, with 48 per cent of patients taken to Logan Hospital’s ED were not transferred off an ambulance stretcher within the recommended 30 minutes.

Queensland Premier gives reasons for latest hospital ramping crisis

New Queensland Health data shows ambulance ramping increase

The average statewide figure for July (31 per cent) has been seized on by the Opposition, with Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington accusing Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Health Minister Steven Miles of no forward planning.

It comes amid an “unprecedented” flu season that’s claimed at least 95 lives, with the latest Queensland Health data revealing there were more than 4000 new cases in each of the last three weeks.

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington.

Ms Frecklington expressed alarm at the ramping figures.

“Under Annastacia Palaszczuk, people are sitting on hospital stretchers and ambulance stretchers for an unacceptable length of time,” she said. “The figures have gone from 20 to 31 per cent on average across Queensland but some areas are just so much worse than others.”

The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital’s ramping figure for July was 39 per cent while the Gold Coast University Hospital recorded 43 per cent. In July last year, the statewide average figure was 23 per cent while August’s was 24 per cent.

It comes after health whistleblowers last month alleged patients were undergoing medical procedures like blood tests in corridors at the Princess Alexandra Hospital because of ramping.

Mr Miles said Queensland hospitals treated 177,225 people in July – 8 per cent more than the same time last year.

Ramping crisis worst in nearly two years

“No one who comes to an emergency department, whether by ambulance or not, is ever turned away – they receive world-class health care,” he said.

“All across Queensland our hospitals are seeing and treating a record number of patients with demand for our hospital services increasing.

“Despite the additional demand for services every single one of our sickest patients were seen within the clinically recommended time.

“The median wait time for every patient to be seen in the ED was just 16 minutes.”

Ms Frecklington said the LNP had fixed ambulance ramping when in government.

“Unfortunately under Annastacia Palaszczuk and her incompetent health minister, they are not planning for the future,” she said.

Originally published as Ambulance ramping at southeast Queensland hospitals is worsening