UPDATE: Victoria’s government has just announced a critical infusion of $50 million to tackle the escalating ambulance ramping crisis affecting hospitals statewide. This urgent funding will provide major regional hospitals, including facilities in Ballarat, Bendigo, Albury-Wodonga, Geelong, Shepparton, and Traralgon, with essential resources to enhance patient care and reduce waiting times in emergency departments.
The funding, part of the 2025 state budget, aims to address alarming ambulance ramping issues that have left patients stranded outside hospitals as ambulances wait for hours to offload. This comes after disturbing data revealed a significant decline in ambulance transfer times since 2020. Just 65 percent of transfers now occur within the 40-minute target, a stark drop from 78 percent three years ago.
The urgency of this initiative cannot be overstated. Major hospitals in Victoria have been grappling with severe congestion, with Ballarat Base Hospital recently reporting a staggering 13-hour ramping incident involving up to nine ambulances. This alarming situation has prompted officials to issue warnings to ambulance crews to avoid the facility due to ongoing bed blockages.
In stark contrast, Warrnambool has managed to achieve an average transfer time of merely 19 minutes, far exceeding the statewide average of 70 percent for transfers completed under 40 minutes. This disparity highlights the urgent need for immediate action in the lagging regional centers.
The funding breakdown includes:
– Grampians Health: $3.6 million to expand the Short Stay Unit at Ballarat Base Hospital, ensuring patients receive timely treatment and reducing congestion in emergency departments.
– Albury Wodonga Health: $3.4 million to create new beds dedicated to critical cases, improving the flow of patients needing urgent care.
– Bendigo Health: $1.1 million aimed at reducing waiting times for patients who require emergency department care but do not need hospitalization.
These measures are designed to improve patient care and alleviate the pressure on emergency services, which have been under strain for far too long. The government has set a target for 90 percent of transfers to occur within 40 minutes, a benchmark that many hospitals, including Albury and Ballarat, have struggled to meet, achieving only 51 percent in recent assessments.
As the situation develops, stakeholders will be closely monitoring the implementation of these funds and the subsequent impact on patient care and ambulance transfer times. The community’s health and safety depend on swift action to rectify these critical issues.
Stay tuned for further updates as more information becomes available. The urgency of these developments underscores the importance of addressing the ambulance ramping crisis and ensuring that patients receive the care they need without delay.
