Queensland Health data shows 45 per cent of patients waiting outside ED in ramped ambulances

Shocking new data has revealed ambulance ramping has hit an unprecedented highs, with 45 per cent of patients waiting more than half an hour to be admitted to EDs as the state’s health system buckles.

Ambulance ramping has hit unprecedented highs, with 45 per cent of patients waiting more than half an hour to be admitted to emergency departments following record-breaking hospital presentations.

Despite Health Minister Shannon Fentiman announcing a $764 million investment to tackle ramping when she took over the portfolio last year, latest figures show 45.5 per cent of patients were waiting beyond the 30-minute mark, with ambulances losing an average of 17 minutes per trip – two minutes higher than in the previous quarter.

The last time Queensland recorded 45 per cent ramping levels was back in the second quarter of 2023 during the height of Covid.

Queensland’s ambulance response times remain the best in the country with paramedics attending call-outs within an average of nine minutes however, they then spent an average of 27 minutes waiting outside of hospitals to transfer patients to ED.

Ms Fentiman has came under fire earlier this year for switching reporting methods from total ambulance hours lost to average lost minutes per ambulance.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman together with Steve Renouf promote the free SiSU Health checks for punters attending the NRL Magic Round, Suncorp Stadium, Milton. Picture: Liam Kidston

The new median measurement has been reported for the first time in the latest quarterly data, with Queensland Health Director-General Michael Walsh claiming average wait times more accurately reflected total time spent ramped outside of hospitals.

He said Queensland’s impressive response times showed ramping was not impacting paramedics’ ability to get to patients on time.

Latest quarterly data reveals a grim picture of Queensland’s growing health needs, with emergency department presentations reaching a staggering 603,863 presentations to ED between January and March – a 5.7 per cent increase, or 33,000 extra people, compared to the same period last year.

Presentations to Queensland’s new satellite hospitals also hit 30,000, meaning if they were diverted to hospitals, it would have effectively doubled pressure on emergency departments during the already record-breaking period.

Ambulance arrivals also increased by 4.4 per cent from the previous quarter, included an 11 per cent rise in category 1 and 2 presentations of people with critical injuries.

The busy quarter also saw a dramatic eight per cent rise in calls to triple-0, with paramedics responding to 16,500 Code 1 incidents – an increase of seven per cent.

Ambulance ramping at the PA Hospital (Princess Alexandra Hospital) Woolloongabba in July 2022 following widespread pressure from Covid variants, flu and medical emergencies. Picture David Clark

Queensland Health attributes the “record breaking demand” to Covid waves, extreme weather and an unusual number of influenza cases which were double the normal rate for the March quarter.

Ms Fentiman claimed the data showed Queensland’s healthcare system was working well against the significant surge in patients.

“Ambulance crews transferred 4200 more patients from stretchers to hospitals within 30 minutes compared to the same period last year, even with a rise in life-threatening calls,” she said.

“Our EDs have seen the highest number of patients ever, exceeding 603,000. Despite this surge, we’ve maintained wait times and treated more critical cases. ”

Elective surgery wait times improved slightly, with 80 per cent now treated within the recommended time frame – 30 days for urgent category one patients, 90 days for semi-urgent category 2 patients and 365 days for non-urgent category 3 patients.

Originally published as Queensland Health data shows 45 per cent of patients waiting outside ED in ramped ambulances