Concerns new Tasmanian ambulance protocol to limit wait times won’t fix ramping

A new protocol limiting the time ambulances spend ramped will come into effect by midnight, but there are concerns that without extra resources and support, ramping times won’t be fixed.

HACSU delegate and paramedic Cam Johnson and State Secretary Robbie Moore at the RHH. Picture: Chris Kidd

The new protocol to cap ambulance ramping times will be implemented at midnight, with hopes patients will be offloaded within the hour of the ambulance attending.

But the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) Tasmanian branch is concerned without extra resources or support, the new protocol won’t make a difference to current ramping times.

It comes as the state government made a non-mandatory 60 minute limit on transfers which will be reduced to 45 minutes next year and 30 minutes the year after.

If a patient isn’t offloaded into one of the public hospitals within one hour of an ambulance attending, it will be escalated to managers and supervisors within the hospital.

“At 15 minutes, that triggers conversations between the hospital and paramedics. At 30 minutes it escalates to supervisors and managers within the hospital and again at 45 minutes and this will ensure that we will see patients offloaded within that one hour,” Health and Community Services Union state secretary Robbie Moore said.

HACSU State Secretary Robbie Moore at the RHH. Picture: Chris Kidd

“Hospitals have had plenty of time to prepare themselves for this situation. The reality is that over 12 months ago, the government agreed to this protocol.

“We are ripping off the Band-Aid and we’re going to ensure that within one hour of an ambulance arriving in the hospital that they’re free to get back out into the community and save lives.”

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmania secretary Emily Shepherd said patients won’t be offloaded mandatorily within 60 minutes if hospitals don’t have capacity.

“There’s a whole raft of matters that actually need resources, attention and time and energy put to them to improve access and flow which will in turn improve ambulance ramping and unfortunately, the government has not put any resources or support in place in our hospitals to actually facilitate the implementation and the actual achievement of reducing ambulance ramping,” she said.

“To suggest that in the next 30 days there would be an improvement in wait times without any other resources, support or strategies put in place to improve access and flow. It’s just unrealistic.

ANMF Secretary Emily Shepherd at the ANMF offices in Hobart. Picture: Linda Higginson

“Our members are already working incredibly hard to move patients off the ramp into a medicine department. They’re already doing that, and they will continue to do that.”

Southern region paramedic Cam Johnson said the current ramping situation is the worst he’s ever seen.

“My last two night shifts I’ve spent six hours out of 14 hours at the hospital working inside the hospital because of ramping,” he said.

HACSU delegate and paramedic Cam Johnson at the RHH. Picture: Chris Kidd

“It’s demoralising. It’s stressful and it makes coming to work very difficult.

“We will wait and see what happens Monday, but it’s good to see that middle and senior management will be held to more account. It’s going to be great to see them get phone calls at four o’clock in the morning when we’ve been ramping for three or four hours and hopefully see a resolution.”

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said he will ensure hospitals are resourced adequately.

“We’ll continue consulting with our nurses and doctors and our health professionals to ensure this works and is implemented effectively,” he said.

“It’s patient focused and that’s how it should be. It’s all about the Tasmanian people and patients and being able to be seen within the appropriate time frame to address their clinical needs.”

Originally published as Concerns new Tasmanian ambulance protocol to limit wait times won’t fix ramping