South Australia's ambulance ramping hits critical crisis
All metropolitan Adelaide hospitals were operating at or over 125 per cent capacity. No emergency beds were available anywhere in the city.
The ambulance employees union is worried about another record month of ramping. The union says paramedics reported slow response times overnight to priority two and three patients.
All Adelaide's city hospitals declared code white status on Wednesday. Each was operating at or over 125 per cent capacity.
Priority 3 patients should wait no longer than 30 minutes for an ambulance. Many reported waits of four to 20 hours.
Priority 2 patients with serious conditions like chest pain and stroke did not meet the 16-minute response target. Up to 16 ambulances were ramped at Lyell McEwin Hospital the morning after the long weekend.
August recorded 5,891 ramping hours. This was the highest on record.
September reached 5,507 hours. The state government cited the aged care crisis.
About 600 patients ready to leave hospital were stuck in their beds.
- 125%+
- Hospital capacity
- 5,891
- August ramping hours
- 4 to 20 hours
- Priority 3 wait range
- 16
- Ambulances at Lyell McEwin
Why it mattersRamping directly delays treatment for seriously ill patients. It also puts pressure on paramedics trying to respond to new emergencies.
AustraliaSouth Australians needing urgent emergency care face significant delays as the hospital system continues to exceed safe capacity.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
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