Ambulance ramping at Geraldton Health Campus reaches record level in August, according to St John WA data

Ambulance ramping reached a record high at Geraldton Health Campus last month, with ambulances parked outside the hospital for a total of almost 28 hours. According to St John WA data, ambulances were waiting outside Geraldton’s hospital for 27.7 hours in August, setting a new record. It beats the previous peak set in June this year of 21 hours, with ambulance ramping data recorded since 2015. Ambulance waiting times have been increasing across the State, and July had a record of 6976 hours across WA. At least three West Australians have died while waiting for ambulances since April, including Geraldton woman Joan Hope. Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson acknowledged the issues, but said a number of strategies have been implemented to manage the pressures. “While some low acuity patients may experience longer than usual waits at EDs at the moment, importantly, patients who need treatment urgently continue to be seen immediately and our hospital are world class when it comes to patient outcomes,” she said. Ms Sanderson said protocols at WA hospitals necessary during the Omicron outbreak were only eased last month, and had slowed down ED processes. “Hospitals are dealing with winter demand, staff furloughing and other sick leave, coupled with a lack of access to GPs, some of whom are not seeing respiratory patients, which is all exacerbating pressure and increasing demand on EDs,” the minister said. A WA Country Health Service spokesperson said they were working closely with St John to ensure increased availability of crews in Geraldton with a focus on high priority patients. “While we never want to keep any of our patients waiting, if an ambulance is ramped at Geraldton Health Campus it’s because our clinicians are working hard to save the lives of those who need it most,” they said. “St John has deployed a seven-day crew for low-acuity paramedic-required patient transfers and community calls during their busiest times of the day. “St John inform us this has increased availability of emergency response crews to high acuity cases in community.” Shadow regional health minister Martin Aldridge said Geraldton’s healthcare system needed widespread improvements. He said Geraldton Regional Hospital’s constrained capacity could have been addressed by upgrades Labor promised in 2017, but have been delayed. Mr Aldridge also said an urgent care clinic was needed to relieve pressure on Geraldton Regional Hospital. He said Labor had been unclear on whether they would build one in Geraldton, despite promises in 2017 to build more urgent care clinics across WA. “We have asked persistently for 5½ years if they will develop an urgent care clinic in Geraldton, and they haven’t given us a clear answer,” Mr Aldridge said. The lack of GPs in regional towns was another factor Mr Aldridge said needed fixing to relieve pressure on country hospitals. “If you need care but can’t see a GP, you don’t have any other choice than to show up to an emergency department,” Mr Aldridge said. “Until the underlying symptoms are addressed, we won’t see the ambulance ramping issues stop.” St John has also been under scrutiny over the issue with St John WA boss Michelle Fyfe resigning in July. Ms Hope, 80, died on April 19 after waiting more than 30 minutes for an ambulance to arrive. A St John investigation into her death concluded more paid paramedics were required in Geraldton, with one ambulance “closed due to staffing” on the day she died, with two other ambulances in service tied up on other jobs when she went into cardiac arrest. A WA Health spokesman said the McGowan Government had committed $30.1 million over four years to fund additional regional paramedics in its most recent Budget in May and that funding had already been provided to St John for two additional positions in Geraldton. Ms Sanderson also noted a $251.7 million investment to reform emergency care and reduce demand pressures.