Second ambulance delay death in two weeks sparks Tasmania health crisis alarm
A man died in Zeehan waiting 78 minutes for an ambulance, the second death in two weeks from similar delays.
A man in the west coast town of Zeehan called for help Saturday with chest pain and breathing difficulties. The local ambulance station was unstaffed due to unfilled leave, so he waited 78 minutes for help from Burnie.
The man died before paramedics arrived. A Hobart man died earlier this month in a similar situation.
He called for help, waited 25 minutes while paramedics handled other cases, and his condition worsened. The two deaths in about two weeks show ambulance delays are costing lives.
Labor and the Greens say the system is in crisis. About 11 percent of paramedic shifts across Tasmania have been unfilled since July last year, leaving remote stations critically short-staffed.
- 78 minutes
- Zeehan wait time
- 25 minutes
- Hobart wait time
- About 11 percent since July last year
- Unfilled paramedic shifts
- Two in about two weeks
- Deaths in timeframe
Why it mattersRepeated deaths directly linked to ambulance shortages show that chronic staffing failures are now costing lives.
AustraliaTasmanians living in rural areas face extended waits for emergency care as paramedic positions remain vacant; the state government faces mounting pressure to fund and recruit health workers.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 3 h ago
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