SA government data shows significant decrease in ambulance ramping hours
After reaching an all-time high two months ago, ambulance ramping hours have decreased to a level not seen in South Australia since June last year. But it's a still long way from the government's promise to fix the crisis, the Premier acknowledging the improved figure is a small step in an ongoing mission.
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00:00A glowing special report, one the state's opposition leader was quick to rubbish.
00:08Vincent Tarzia shredding an eight-page spread in the local paper, spruiking the government's
00:12efforts to improve the state's health system.
00:15The only thing that Labor is building is a bigger ramping crisis.
00:19This is a complete waste of money.
00:22But moments after Mr Tarzia's stunt, the state government released September's ramping data,
00:27which showed a 41% decrease in ramping hours from the previous month.
00:32The biggest drop seen since records began.
00:35To finally see a set of ramping numbers come down as much as what we've seen in the last
00:40month is what we've all been waiting and hoping for.
00:43While the figure of just over 3,000 hasn't been seen since June last year, it's still
00:4815% more than the month Labor took office.
00:52The Premier acknowledging that, and pointing to ongoing works.
00:55We welcome it, but no one's celebrating, no one's claiming victory.
00:59Initiatives like the Bright Hub here at Queen Elizabeth Hospital are aimed at directing
01:03people away from crowded emergency departments to ease ramping across the health system.
01:09The government claims this hub is working, with more than 1,300 people being diverted
01:14from emergency departments since it opened in July.
01:17But the opposition isn't convinced, saying the figure could just be an outlier in the
01:22bigger picture.
01:23You're going to see these numbers jump around from month to month, but overall the trend
01:27is not good under this government.
01:28With an election looming in less than 18 months, Peter Malinowskis will hope the initiatives
01:34continue to make change.