Paramedics unable to respond to 'lights and sirens' cases while ramped
Halfway through the Crisafulli government's first-term, data shows ramping figures have only slightly improved since they took office.
Frontline paramedics in Queensland are frustrated by the ambulance ramping crisis, spending entire shifts with patients stuck outside overcrowded hospital emergency departments, unable to respond to emergency cases in the community. The government hopes to reduce statewide ramping below 30% by October 2028, but the latest data shows only slight improvement.
In August, 42% of ambulance patients in Queensland's top 26 public hospitals waited more than 30 minutes to be transferred to emergency departments. Some hospitals, such as Logan, Redland, and QEII in the Metro South region, had ramping rates exceeding 60%. A man in his 50s with chest pains was found dead about two hours after calling Triple Zero in Brisbane's south, highlighting the severity of the issue.
Paramedics have shared videos and photos showing ambulances parked outside hospitals, emphasizing the crisis. The Health Minister, Tim Nicholls, remains hopeful of achieving the target, attributing the situation to the aging population and chronic diseases, while also calling for support from the federal government.
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