Man dies of heart attack after lengthy wait at Bairnsdale Regional Health Service

The death of a man who was waiting for an ambulance has prompted Premier Daniel Andrews to concede there is “more to do” to fix the health sector’s staffing crisis.

Bairnsdale Regional Health Service has been suffering from Covid staff shortages.

The death of a man who was waiting on an ambulance stretcher for hours at a regional Victorian hospital emergency department will be probed amid concerns the state’s medical system is buckling under the pressure of Covid-19.

The 70-year-old died on Monday about 3.30pm after he was forced to wait several hours for treatment at the Bairnsdale Regional Health Service, in East Gippsland.

The Herald Sun was told the man, who went into cardiac arrest, was among several patients forced to wait at the hospital, which has been plagued by staff shortages due to the virus.

Bairnsdale Regional Health Service said it could not comment, but a state government spokesman said an investigation had been launched.

“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of the man who died at Bairnsdale,” he said.

“A thorough investigation has begun into the circumstances of his death, and it would be inappropriate to comment while those investigations are taking place.”

Premier Daniel Andrews has offered his sympathies to the family of a man who died on a stretcher in a regional hospital while waiting for treatment, pointing to staff shortages as a massive strain on the state’s health system.

Speaking at the opening of a new health service in Kyneton, Mr Andrews addressed reports about the man’s death.

“We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the family of that particular gentleman,” he said.

“There will be a proper review of what has occurred there.

“On any given day over these last few months, we’ve had over 2000 staff who have not been able to report to work each and every day, across our health system.

“If you start counting at broader services, then that number grows.

“They’re sick, or they’re having to care for somebody who’s sick, that has put extraordinary pressure on our system.

“Of course, our sympathies with that family, it will be reviewed properly and there will be more to say about that at the appropriate time.”

When asked what the government was doing to fix these shortages, Mr Andrews said “everything was reviewed every day” and defended his government’s investment in health.

“We have recruited more ambulance paramedics, more nurses, more doctors than any government in the state’s history. Is there more to do still? Of course there is,” he said.

“The big issue here is backup workforces, we’re using our third or fourth backup workforce.

“Where people are coming back from retirement, people are doing full time instead of part time (and) people are helping out in every way they possibly can.

“You can’t generate health professionals in a matter of weeks and months.

“There’s often a bit of commentary around this, and it’s usually playing political games, that somehow you can just wave a wand and suddenly you’ve got tens of thousands extra nurses.

“It doesn’t work that way.”

Mr Andrews also took a swipe at the Commonwealth, attacking plans to end the 50/50 funding arrangement between state and federal governments over Covid policies.

“The pandemic doesn’t end in a couple of months,” he said.

“The catch up doesn’t end in a couple of months time, the pressure in our health system won’t end in a couple of months time.

“Only Liberal Party funding ends in a couple of months time and that’s sad.

“I’d encourage (Treasurer) Josh Frydenberg and the Prime Minister to revisit that.”

Member for Gippsland East Tim Bull said up to 10 per cent of staff at the hospital were off sick with Covid-19, which was creating “unbelievable strain”.

“The hours and effort that our medical staff are putting in at the moment is huge,” he said.

“They are just overwhelmed at the moment, and obviously Monday was not a good day. Now we’ve got a local family in mourning.

“These things are coming up all the time and no doubt there will be an inquiry into what has happened,” he said.

The Herald Sun was told the ED had been full on Monday and there was no other beds.

The tragedy comes as health experts say Victoria’s health system is buckling under the strain of staff shortages and people who are unable to access elective surgery during the pandemic.