Newly released data from Barwon Health has exposed a deepening ambulance ramping crisis at Geelong University Hospital, with patients facing dangerously long waits outside the emergency department.
Alarming Statistics Reveal Growing Problem
The latest performance report shows ambulance ramping hours have increased significantly, with paramedics spending hundreds of additional hours waiting to transfer patients to hospital care. The data reveals a 15% increase in ramping hours compared to the same period last year, indicating the situation is deteriorating rather than improving.
During the busiest periods, some patients have waited more than two hours in ambulances before being admitted to the emergency department. This delay not only affects those patients but also reduces ambulance availability for new emergency calls across the Geelong region.
Impact on Patient Care and Emergency Services
The ongoing ramping crisis creates a domino effect throughout the healthcare system. When paramedics are stuck at hospital entrances, they cannot respond to new emergencies in the community. This puts additional strain on remaining ambulance crews and increases response times for critical incidents.
Medical professionals have expressed concern about the quality of care patients receive while waiting in ambulances. Emergency department doctors report that ramped patients often experience treatment delays that could potentially compromise their health outcomes.
Barwon Health officials acknowledge the problem but point to systemic issues including bed shortages, staffing challenges, and increasing patient demand. The hospital has been operating at or near capacity for months, with the emergency department seeing record numbers of presentations.
Searching for Solutions
Local health authorities are implementing several strategies to address the crisis, including:
- Expanding short-stay units to free up emergency department beds
- Increasing after-hours primary care options to reduce non-urgent presentations
- Improving patient flow through the hospital system
- Enhancing coordination between ambulance services and hospital staff
However, healthcare unions and opposition politicians argue that more substantial investment and systemic reform are needed to resolve what has become a chronic problem at Geelong University Hospital.
The situation in Geelong reflects a broader ambulance ramping crisis affecting hospitals across Victoria and other Australian states. With winter approaching and seasonal illness typically increasing pressure on hospitals, concerns are growing that the problem may worsen in coming months without immediate intervention.
