Government pressured on ramping crisis after woman’s death at Launceston General Hospital
New Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff has slammed the government for letting Tasmania’s ramping crisis get to “very extreme levels”, claiming 40 per cent of all ambulances were ramped on arrival. Details.
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New Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff has slammed the state government for letting Tasmania’s ramping crisis get to “very extreme levels”, claiming 40 per cent of all ambulances were ramped on arrival.
Her words came in the wake of criticism from Coroner Robert Webster, who handed down his findings on Tuesday into the death of a 71-year-old woman ramped for eight hours at Launceston General Hospital.
Mr Webster said he was “pessimistic” about any progress being made on ramping, and noted deaths would continue to occur until “those with the responsibility and power” took action.
Dr Woodruff said the coroner’s findings gave a “tragic real life example” of how the crisis was placing Tasmanians at risk.
She also echoed Mr Webster’s concerns that a root cause analysis team had been silent on what the Tasmania Health Service planned to do about ramping.
Dr Woodruff called on the new Health Minister Guy Barnett to immediately announce a plan for how the government would deal with ramping.
“We know there has to be a plan to increase beds, and there has to be a plan to increase resourcing for paramedics and nurses in the emergency department,” she said.
“There are things that can be done and the silence is unacceptable.”
Dr Woodruff said Tasmanian residents were fearful about their loved ones who were vulnerable or older, in the event they needed emergency care.
She also said another impact was when paramedics were locked into sitting on ramps instead of being out in the community answering emergency calls.
Minister Jo Palmer said she was “pretty devastated” over the woman’s death and “heartbroken” for her family, and said the government was aware of pressures on paramedics, hospital staff and “bed blockage”.
She said the state was working with the federal government on GP shortages, which compounded the high demand in emergency wards.
A Department of Health spokesperson said Mr Webster’s comments had been noted, and all of his recommendations were being actioned.
They said a number of measures were being taken to address delays, including boosting community healthcare options to reduce pressure on hospitals.
Labor Health spokesperson Anita Dow said the ramping crisis was symptomatic of a health system in crisis, and the woman’s death must be a “wake-up call” for the government.
The statistics for ramping at Launceston General Hospital were 43.1 per cent, 21.4 per cent at the North West Regional Hospital, and 13.6 per cent at the Mersey Community Hospital.
A total of 15,686 patients were ramped in the first nine months of 2022-23, with an average of two hours per patient.
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Originally published as Government pressured on ramping crisis after woman’s death at Launceston General Hospital
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