Question Time

Ambulance Ramping

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:19): I direct my question to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing: has the minister inquired into the concerning reports from the Ambulance Employees Association overnight that a 90-year-old patient was shuttled between three hospitals—Flinders, the Royal Adelaide and The Queen Elizabeth Hospital—over almost seven hours due to ramping and overcrowding of the health system? If the minister has made inquiries, what has the minister been told and does the minister think that this treatment is unacceptable?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:19): I thank the honourable member for his question. Yes, I am certainly aware of the post by the Ambulance Employees Association. I have sought advice, and I am advised that the situation, as outlined by the Ambulance Employees Association, is accurate. The situation overnight is completely unacceptable. As is normal practice in a case like this, SAS is doing a review into what happened. I am advised there were no adverse clinical outcomes, and I apologise to the patient and their family.