February ramping hits 3757 hours, sixth worst month on record

Ramping continues to haunt the state government as its opens new hospital beds, hitting 3757 hours in February almost two years after the election where fixing it was Labor’s core promise.

New data shows more than 82,000 hours have been lost to ramping since Labor was elected less than two years ago, as ambulances with emergency patients spent 3757 hours stuck in hospital car parks in February.

While this was 203 fewer hours than January, it was the sixth worst month on record and more than double the 1522 hours lost in February 2022, the month before the last state election where “fixing” ramping was Labor’s core election promise.

Prior to the last election paramedics used to write protests on ramped ambulances. Picture: Facebook.

Ramping has been above 3000 hours every month since May 2022 except for April (2810 hours) and May (2972 hours) last year, soaring to a record 4285 hours last November.

The state government released the February figures while promoting a new $3.5m hospital “avoidance hub” which will open next week for older patients in Adelaide’s south to help them avoid unnecessary emergency department visits.

Health Minister Chris Picton said the new service at the Repat Health Precinct would free up ED beds for more serious emergency cases.

Health Minister Chris Picton. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Roy VanDerVegt

“Together with 10 extra beds in the Gawler Emergency Department we have added 16 beds in the course of a week, the first of 150 new beds under construction that we will open this year,” he said.

“Beds will also open at Flinders Medical Centre, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Lyell McEwin Hospital, and more to come at the Repat.

“We know that this extra capacity is essential to reducing bed block which is one of the key drivers of ramping.”

However, Opposition health spokeswoman Ashton Hurn said “Labor have delivered the 21 worst months of ramping in South Australia’s history.”

Opposition health spokeswoman Ashton Hurn. Picture Dean Martin

“Despite Peter Malinauskas’ promises to ‘fix ramping’, the stark reality is that South Australia

has just experienced the worst February on record,” she said.

“These aren’t just numbers – they represent real South Australians and paramedics who are

left stuck outside our hospitals waiting to get inside.

“Peter Malinauskas’ disastrous ramping record eclipses anything ever seen under the former

Liberal Government, yet he told South Australians at the time ramping was at crisis levels

and he was the only one with a plan to fix our health system.

“People are sick and tired of Peter Malinauskas’ and Chris Picton’s excuses – they want

them to get on with fixing ramping just like they promised.”

The Repat’s six-bed CARE Service will open on Thursday, replacing an existing service operating at the Repat for two and a half years in a temporary space which has helped more than 10,000 older people avoid ED visits.

The service is provided by specialist geriatricians, nursing and allied health staff including occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and social workers.

Referrals are made through SA Ambulance Service, emergency departments, residential care homes and GPs and the service is open from 8am-10pm, seven days a week.

It is part of the $498m state and federal government’s commitment to expand Flinders Medical Centre and the Repat with 160 extra beds.

Originally published as February ramping hits 3757 hours, sixth worst month on record