Ambulance Response

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (14:34): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Health and Wellbeing regarding ambulances.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: On the evening of 9 October, 92-year-old Joan Adcock fell in her home. Her emergency pendant was out of reach and she was unable to wake her husband. Joan, who was found 10 hours later on the morning after her fall, was bleeding from the head. Joan's husband immediately called an ambulance, but it took over an hour for the ambulance to arrive. My questions to the minister are:

1. Does the minister believe that a one-hour wait for an ambulance in response to a head trauma for a person in their 90s is an acceptable standard for vulnerable South Australians?

2. What does the minister have to say to Joan and her husband in response to this incredibly distressing experience?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:35): The SA Ambulance Service has a well-developed set of priority ratings for the response to incidents and always strives to provide timely responses. When, through whatever circumstances, those standards are not met and people have delayed access to an ambulance service, that is to be regretted and we apologise. I don't know the details of the particular case, but certainly if the family experienced inordinate delays, I apologise.