Paramedics describe 'culture of near misses' as Hunter hospital ramping worsens
John Hunter's 30-minute ambulance handovers fell from 92.7% to 64.5% since 2017, paramedics warn.
Ambulance resources in the Hunter are stretched so thin that crews struggle to respond to cardiac arrests and heart attacks, paramedic Tim Hilliar says. Health data shows the crisis deepening: at John Hunter Hospital, handovers within 30 minutes dropped from 92.7 per cent in early 2017 to 64.5 per cent in early 2026.
A few weeks ago Hilliar waited eight hours with an assault victim. The opposition and doctors' unions have criticised the government.
- 92.7% to 64.5% in 30 minutes
- Handover collapse
- 40 to 65 beds short daily
- Bed shortage
- 8 hours with assault victim
- Wait example
- Hunter region, NSW
- Location
Why it mattersLong waits in ambulances delay care for the sickest patients and mean paramedics cannot respond to new emergencies, raising safety risks.
AustraliaAmbulance ramping directly affects patient safety and response times across NSW's Hunter region, a major health system crisis.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 9 d ago
