STARTLING statistics have revealed more than 1 in 2 ambulances were ramped at Brisbane hospitals in March setting a new record in the Queensland Health Crisis.
For the first time in history, ambulance ramping levels have climbed to 50% at nine major Brisbane Hospitals with patients left waiting on stretchers for hours at a time.
As the Queensland Health Crisis escalates, data released from a parliamentary Question on Notice, shows a whopping 68% of ambulances were ramped at the Princess Alexandra hospital in March, 66% at Redlands and 62% at Logan.
In 2015, ambulance ramping was at 15%.
Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli said the alarming figures were unprecedented in Queensland.
“We have now reached uncharted territory in the Queensland Health Crisis and no amount of promises to fix it years down the track will heal a sick system,” he said.
“For every one of the last seven years the State Government has crowed about its ‘record health budget’, but it’s their record on health that matters to Queenslanders.
Ambulance ramping in Queensland is the worst in the nation.
“Queenslanders are being let down by a broken system every day.
“The fact that 68% of ambulances were ramped at the PA in March alone should sound alarm bells for the Premier and her Health Minister.
“Queensland now has the worst ambulance ramping in the country, elective surgery waitlists have blown out and the waiting list for the waiting list has reached new heights.
“The Premier and her Health Minister must listen, and they must act.
“Queenslanders deserve better.”
Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates said frontline paramedics were stretched to the limit.
“Every minute these ambos lose on the ramp, is a minute they can’t get to another patient,” she said.
“As a registered nurse and former hospital administrator, I know how frustrating it is for our frontline staff.
“They are the heroes in this crisis.
“They didn’t sign up to sit at the end of a hospital ramp for hours at a time, they signed up because they want to help people.
“We’ve put solutions on the table including more beds, better triage, releasing real-time data and giving power back to the frontline staff to make better decisions to improve patient care.
“It’s time for the Premier and her Ministers to start listening.”
| Hospital | January | February | March |
| Princess Alexandra | 69% | 66% | 68% |
| Redland | 62% | 59% | 66% |
| Logan | 63% | 60% | 62% |
| Mater Adult | 58% | 55% | 60% |
| Queen Elizabeth II | 54% | 51% | 59% |
| Prince Charles | 48% | 42% | 55% |
| Redcliffe | 50% | 46% | 54% |
| RBWH | 45% | 45% | 53% |
| Caboolture | 37% | 38% | 50% |
Source: Queensland Health