‘Five years lost’: AMA releases latest ramping report card
The total time South Australians have spent waiting outside hospitals has tripled in five years, according to a new report highlighting the state’s ramping crisis.
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) released its 2025 Ambulance Ramping Report Card on Thursday, revealing patients spent 45,399 hours ramped in 2023-24, an increase from 15,239 hours in 2019-20.
The state’s peak medical body says these figures equate to more than five years of lost time waiting for care.
“My concern is that ramping, long ED wait-times and postponed surgeries have almost become the ‘new normal’,” said AMA SA President Dr John Williams.
“But we can’t lose sight of the real people reflected in these figures… we can’t lose sight of the 80-year-old grandmother stuck on the ramp for two hours or the mental health patient, who’s confused and distressed, waiting for emergency care.”
Total hours South Australians were ramped outside hospitals by financial year. Source: AMA
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Under SA Health guidelines, 90 per cent of patients should be transferred from ambulance care to hospital staff within 30 minutes.
However, the report shows 47.3 per cent of patients met that target last financial year, noting a 7 per cent improvement on the previous year, but a 16.5 per cent decrease over the previous five years.
Health Minister Chris Picton told InDaily the state government has made significant investments to expand and improve the health system, including more beds, staff and faster ambulance response times, however noted there is still work to be done.
“According to the latest Productivity Commission report, we have improved ambulance response times by more than 50 per cent – from 71.3 minutes in 2021-22 to 34.3 minutes in 2023-24,” he said.
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“Right now, there are a record 273 patients who are medically ready to leave hospital but are waiting for an aged care bed – a 145 per cent increase in almost 18 months.
“We know there is more work to do and we’re getting on with that job.”
Shadow Health Minister Ashton Hurn reiterated that the Malinauskas government had previously pledged to resolve ramping.
“This latest data confirms what patients and paramedics are experiencing every day, record ramping under Labor and hours spent stuck outside our hospitals waiting to get in,” she said.
“We need a system wide approach to health, including a much better focus on general practice, mental health and boosting our workforce.”
In February, the federal government announced a multi-million funding boost for the public health system.
Dr Williams said the one-off commitment fell short, as South Australia’s emergency departments consistently perform well below the national average.
“There’s no doubt that an extra $169 million of Commonwealth funding will help, but we need a lasting solution if we’re going to tackle the big problems in our health system,” he said.
In May, AMA SA will host healthcare leaders from across the system at a “Access to Care Round Table”.
‘We’re assembling people from all corners of the healthcare system who have the expertise and the influence to make a genuine difference,’ Dr Williams said.
“We’re seeking fresh perspectives and innovative solutions.
“No ideas are off the table.”
