[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_Concerns Over Ambulance 'Ramping' at RHH_C O'Connor MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

AMBULANCE "RAMPING" AT THE ROYAL NOW CHRONIC

Still No Action From Government After More Than Eighteen Months

Cassy O'Connor MP
Greens Shadow Health Spokesperson

Wednesday, 27 August 2008
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300

www.tas.greens.org.au


The Tasmanian Greens today called on the Health Minister to explain why
the practice of "ramping", where ambulance crews and patients are tied
up for hours at the Royal Hobart Hospital Emergency Department, has not
been addressed and now appears to be a chronic problem.

Greens Shadow Health spokesperson Cassy O'Connor MP said ambulance crews
and their union are absolutely fed up with the lack of action to address
the practice of "ramping" at the Royal. 

"I'm aware that last Thursday night, the 21st of August, an ambulance
was unavailable for service for four and a half hours between 11pm and
3.30 am, with the crew stuck in an Emergency Department bay, with a
patient on a stretcher left in the care of the ambulance crew, while
waiting for medical attention," Ms O'Connor said.

"My understanding from speaking to people in the field is that this is
happening every day at the Royal, with crews and patients regularly
stuck for at least two hours or more."

"In March last year, the Royal's CEO Dr Craig White, said in a media
release that he was aware of Ambulance Service claims of increased
'ramping', and that talks were continuing with ambulance representatives
"about how this build up could be avoided".  Dr White said, "a number of
constructive proposals were under consideration". [i]

"That was eighteen months ago and the problem remains chronic, according
to ambulance professionals and the Health and Community Services Union -
which I understand has gone so far as to produce magnetic stickers for
ambulances that say "Unavailable due to ramping at the Royal".

"The union is fed up, ambulance crews are fed up, the ambulances are
lining up and out of service for hours at a time.  What is the Health
Minister doing about this issue, which is compromising patient care and
taking ambulances out of service to the further detriment of Tasmanians
needing emergency service support?" Ms O'Connor said.

-------------------------------------------

[i] Dr Craig White, Media Release, "NEW RHH EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
ADDRESSING TEETHING PROBLEMS", 29 March 2007



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