Opposition claims worst Cairns Hospital ramping on record

A concerning development in the Queensland Health crisis has emerged with revelations May 2023 was the worst month for ambulance ramping in recorded history.

A concerning development in the Queensland Health crisis has emerged with revelations May 2023 was the worst month for ambulance ramping in recorded history.

More than 16,000 hours were lost across Queensland in May, which meant ambulances spent 517 hours on ramps each day. ​

Within the Cairns Health and Hinterland Hospital Service more than 2100 total hours were lost between January 2023 and June 2023, or 12 hours per day, and 1.2 crews taken off the road.

Ramping out the front of the Cairns Hospital emergency department. Picture: Peter Carruthers

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli said the Palaszczuk Labor Government was in denial as they continued to ignore the seriousness of the Queensland Health Crisis. ​

​“For the State Government to refuse to admit Queensland Health is in crisis shows they will never be able to heal a sick system,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“Patients know it, families know it and frontline staff know it, but the Health Minister refuses to accept it.

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli. Picture Lachie Millard

“Queensland Health is on life support and these catastrophic statistics prove the state government can’t be trusted to heal the health crisis.”

Opposition health spokeswoman Ros Bates said the figures were more than numbers on a spreadsheet and represented real Queenslanders stuck in the back of ambulances at the Cairns Hospital emergency department.

“As a nurse and former hospital administrator, I know how stressful it is for patients and paramedics,” she said.

“I want to thank my frontline colleagues who are working double shifts to keep the health system on the rails.”

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Originally published as Opposition claims worst Cairns Hospital ramping on record