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Summer 2008

Ambulance Ramping Putting Community at Risk

HACSU is pressuring the State Government to finally resolve ambulance ramping at the Royal Hobart Hospital.

Ramping occurs when patients are forced to wait on an Ambulance stretcher in a hospital corridor before being admitted into the Emergency Department.

During ramping, Ambulance Officers are unable to leave the hospital and respond to ambulance cases, and in some cases Ambulances have been "Ramped" for up to six hours at a time.

On 26 August 2008, Ambulance Officers have started placing signs on Ambulances ramped for more than half an hour which states; 'Unavailable Due to Ramping at the Royal Hobart Hospital'.

This move is designed to make ambulance ramping more prominent and embarrass the State Government into action.

Assistant State Secretary, Tim Jacobson said this situation is nothing short of appalling.

"The time for naval gazing has passed, the Minister for Health must intervene and take immediate and urgent action to stop talking and actually fix the problem," he said.

Ambulance ramping creates significant delays in response times, which is critical in many circumstances.

Ramping also delays the return of on-the-ready Ambulances back into local communities, in order to respond to emergencies.

The State Government has a fundamental obligation to ensure that members of the community receive an Ambulance when they need one.

Waiting times at the emergency department at the hospital may mean that an Ambulance is simply not available when you need it.

The solution to this is simple. Ramping occurs because beds have been closed at the Royal Hobart Hospital, but could be resolved by reopening the beds and by providing additional nursing staff.

Action by HACSU members has generated public awareness and media coverage about the issue and has provoked comment by Lara Giddings.

The campaign will continue until such time that the Minister takes serious action to resolve the issue.