A review following the death of a man after a 10-hour wait for ambulance services has exposed critical issues within SA’s emergency response system. 

The review identified hospital ramping as a significant factor contributing to the delay in providing urgent care to the patient, who suffered from abdominal pain and vomiting.

The South Australian Ambulance Service (SAAS) has pledged to implement all seven recommendations proposed by the review to prevent such occurrences in the future. 

These recommendations focus on enhancing the prioritisation of call-backs during peak demand periods, particularly for vulnerable patients, and improving the internal escalation process for when clinical concerns are identified without an available ambulance.

Health Minister Chris Picton acknowledged the long journey ahead in addressing these systemic issues, outlining plans to add 150 hospital beds this year to mitigate ramping. 

“Every possible bed, every possible doctor and nurse, every possible paramedic and ambulance, we are putting into the system to make sure people can get the care when they need,” he said.

Opposition Leader David Speirs has stressed the urgency of implementing the changes, saying timely ambulance arrival could have saved the patient's life. 

The clinical improvement working group, reporting to SAAS Chief Executive Officer Rob Elliott, has been tasked with overseeing the execution of the recommendations. Elliott has committed to making the ambulance service safer and more efficient.

The review, while not probing the cause of death - deemed a matter for the coroner - highlights the need for systemic reforms to enhance patient safety and prevent future tragedies in South Australia's ambulance service.
Full findings and recommendations can be found here.