According to the Ambulance Employees Association, patients in South Australia experienced a staggering 5,891 hours of ramping in August—marking a new record that surpasses the previous high of 5,866 hours set in July 2022. This alarming statistic was made public alongside an independent review of SA Health, which was presented in the state parliament and concluded that ramping has reached “chronic” levels from 2022 to 2026, indicating a decline in the overall performance of the public health system.
SA Health Minister Blair Boyer stated that he plans to advocate for additional aged care beds from the federal government during an upcoming meeting, which he hopes will help alleviate the ramping crisis.
The independent review, which coincided with the release of ramping statistics, criticized the performance of South Australia’s public health system, suggesting it has deteriorated significantly under the current administration. The review noted that the ramping issue has persisted throughout the Malinauskas government’s first term, despite prior commitments to address the crisis.
The SA Health Performance Council led the review, revealing that in the 2024-25 period, less than 50% of metropolitan patients were transferred from paramedics to emergency department staff within a half-hour of ambulance arrival—down from over 92% in 2014-15. The council’s report described the expectation of completely resolving ambulance ramping as unrealistic. Instead, it advocated for establishing targets that align with community expectations while ensuring safety and sustainability, suggesting that an acceptable target would be to reduce ramping to pre-COVID levels of fewer than 2,000 total monthly hours.
The council expressed concern that the public health system’s performance had worsened in numerous areas over recent years. In a letter to Minister Boyer, Professor Stephen Duckett, chair of the council, emphasized the need for a transformation in SA Health’s culture from one of “micromanaging” to a more strategic and accountable approach. He highlighted issues such as a lack of comprehensive planning and misalignment between priorities and performance metrics.
In response to the review, the South Australian government acknowledged the immense pressure currently facing the public health system. They reported a more than 50% increase in emergency department presentations over the past decade, with a nearly 12% rise occurring between 2022 and 2025 alone, which has significantly strained hospital resources.
The government asserted that despite the challenges, there have been notable improvements in ambulance response times over the past four years, alongside high patient satisfaction levels. They claimed progress has been made in expanding capacity, enhancing patient flow, and improving access to care.
Despite these assertions, the recent ramping figures have drawn criticism from the ambulance union, which argues that the government’s explanations regarding federal aged care bed shortages are insufficient to address the ongoing issue. Union General Secretary Paul Ekkelboom highlighted that ramping remains at crisis levels, expressing frustration at the lack of tangible solutions from the government. He pointed out that ramping hours have drastically increased from just 328 hours in 2017 to the current figure of 5,891 hours.
While acknowledging the challenges posed by the shortage of aged care beds, Ekkelboom emphasized that it is the responsibility of the South Australian government to devise effective solutions. He stated, “This is a government’s problem to solve,” urging action rather than further excuses.
Minister Boyer confirmed that August was particularly challenging regarding ramping, with record numbers of patients unable to transition from hospitals while awaiting residential aged care. The minister indicated plans to advocate for additional aged care beds in discussions with federal health authorities.
