Ambulance Ramping

The Hon. I. PNEVMATIKOS (15:13): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Health and Wellbeing regarding health.

Leave granted.

The Hon. I. PNEVMATIKOS: On 1 May 2018, which was 1,213 days ago, the Premier spoke about ramping, and I quote:

There are significant issues, but we're working through them as quickly as we possibly can.

Since that time, the hours that South Australia were ramped have increased to the highest in the state's history. My questions to the minister are:

1. Why is ambulance ramping in South Australia now at record levels, 4½ times the levels for the same months in 2017?

2. Does the minister accept responsibility for presiding over the worst six months of ramping in South Australia's history?

3. Does the minister agree with the Ambulance Employees Association that one in every two elderly ambulance patients now gets ramped outside of public hospitals?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:14): I thank the honourable member for her question. The honourable member asked me to explain what factors were leading to the increase in ambulance ramping. They are not unrelated to the pandemic that the Hon. Frank Pangallo referred to.

Right across Australia, public hospitals have been experiencing high levels of emergency department demand in recent months. For example, we have been experiencing significant increases in ambulance ramping. We had what has been our peak during this pandemic in May. The Western Australian government had a peak in June—either June or July—which, if we had the same level of ambulance ramping as them, we would have had 10 per cent more ambulance ramping than we do in fact have.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The deputy leader will remain silent.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: The concern of health ministers is active right across Australia. In fact, in April it was the focus of a meeting of health ministers, so much so that national cabinet also discussed those issues. Further work is being done by the health ministers, and we will be working with the commonwealth to try to respond to the pressure in our hospitals.

The Hon. I.K. Hunter interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Hunter, order! Continue, minister.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Leader of the Opposition is out of order.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I think it's important to appreciate what the health ministers around Australia are finding.

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Minister, continue.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: What health ministers right around Australia report they are finding is that there is a significant increase in acuity. Over the last few months, South Australian public hospitals have seen higher levels not only of presentations but higher levels of more acute patients. One of the most widely held theories in relation to why we are seeing that phenomenon is the delayed and deferred care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In other words, people who in the context of the COVID pandemic were concerned about attending at a hospital because of the risk of people going there for tests or for treatment—they were avoiding presenting for care. Then, when they do present, their deferred care involves higher levels of acuity because their conditions have deteriorated in the meantime.

The Hon. I.K. Hunter interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order, the Hon. Mr Hunter!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: The Hon. Irene Pnevmatikos asked me for the reasons, and I am highlighting factors.

The Hon. I.K. Hunter interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Hunter might like to put his mask back on. Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Yes, I would ask honourable members to be mindful of the public health directions in place.

The Hon. I.K. Hunter interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Minister, continue.

The Hon. I.K. Hunter interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order, the Hon. Mr Hunter!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Another factor is that there is a significant—

The Hon. I.K. Hunter interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: There seems to have been a significant variation or development in the referral patterns of GPs. Significantly, GPs are concerned about seeing patients with respiratory conditions, both adults and children, in their GP clinics. I don't criticise them for that. It is a challenge to deal with.

The Hon. I.K. Hunter interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Hunter will cease interjecting.

The Hon. I.K. Hunter interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Also, another factor is that our emergency departments—

The Hon. I.K. Hunter: Your ministerial colleagues are giggling and you have half of elderly patients waiting to be ramped into hospitals.

The PRESIDENT: Order! I think observations about laughter and giggling this week don't reflect kindly on the opposition. The minister will conclude his remarks.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Thank you, Mr President.