Community & Business
14 June, 2023
Ramping times at Hospital pass 7 hours
Data from the Queensland Government shows a patient in January this year spent 7 hours and 31 minutes ramped in an ambulance at Toowoomba Hospital.
From August 2022 to February 2023, the next longest wait times were 6 hours and 55 minutes, 6 hours and 20 minutes, 6 hours and 13 minutes and 5 hours and 45 minutes.
Minister for Health, Mental Health, and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman said the most recent quarterly performance data shows 72 per cent of patients in Queensland are seen in the recommended time frame.
“The rise in the urgency of cases, and the reduction in the availability and affordability of primary care, means that people who would have otherwise sought care in the community are now coming to our emergency departments,” Ms Fentiman said.
“Some of these patients will be less urgent and may need to wait for some time before receiving care from an emergency doctor.”
Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates said the Opposition has put solutions on the table including better resources, improving triaging, real time data monitoring and giving power back to local doctors and nurses.
