It’s disappointing, although not surprising, that South Australia’s emergency departments continue to perform well below the national average. The latest figures reflect the stubborn challenges our members confront on a daily basis — the overwhelming patient demand, the staffing shortages, the stretched resources. I’m sincerely grateful to the hardworking health staff who persevere in these difficult conditions. Their dedication to patients is admirable.
We must not become resigned to the failures of the system. This report makes for difficult reading, but the data empowers us to find a way forward. By quantifying the full extent of the pain points in our health system, we’re better equipped to find genuine solutions.
AMA SA is leading the charge for change. In the coming months we’ll bring together health decision makers and thinkers from across South Australia to develop strategies and innovations that we hope will initiate lasting change. We’ve also established a new international medical graduates (IMG) Committee to break down barriers for overseas trained doctors who form a crucial component of our health workforce. Our trusted place in the community, and the power of our collective strength, means we have the power to shape policy and legislation for the better.
Increased support for primary care is key. General practice is the most effective and crucially the most cost-efficient way to keep our population well and out of hospitals. AMA’s plan to Modernise Medicare will bolster general practice, reducing avoidable hospital admissions, easing ambulance ramping, and leading to better experiences for patients.
Key Takeaways
Despite an improvement in the percentage of Category 2 planned surgeries occurring on time, South Australia has again seen historically poor emergency department performance in 2023–24. Both ED metrics measured by the AMA fell for the fifth consecutive year, reflecting a public hospital system in crisis.
Figure 1: South Australia performance 2023–24 compared to the previous year
| Cat 3 ED on time |
4-hour rule |
Median surgery wait |
Cat 2 surgery wait |
| ❌ |
❌ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
Figure 2: South Australia performance 2023‒24 compared to national average (below or above)
| Cat 3 ED on time |
4-hour Rule |
Median surgery wait |
Cat 2 surgery wait |
| ▼ |
▼ |
▼ |
▼ |
▲ |
Emergency department performance - South Australia
South Australia’s emergency department performance went from bad to worse in 2023–24. Last year’s Public Hospital Report Card showed South Australia's emergency departments were performing at the lowest levels in recent memory, with this year’s reporting period showing even further declines. Just 38 per cent of ED patients triaged as “urgent” were seen on time, down from 65 per cent 10 years prior. Meanwhile, only 50 per cent of ED presentations were completed in four hours or less, a near worst-in-class performance which represents a 12 per cent decline in the past five years.
Figure 3: Percentage of Category 3 (urgent) ED patients seen within the recommended time of under 30 minutes — SA
Figure 4: Percentage of ED visits completed in four hours or less — SA
Planned surgery performance - South Australia
While emergency department performance has fallen, South Australia has seen an improvement in both planned surgery metrics measured by the AMA. The median waiting time for planned surgery has fallen from 49 to 47 days. Despite this improvement, SA patients are still waiting 12 days longer for planned surgery than a decade prior. Fortunately, the state saw a minor improvement in the percentage of Category 2 patients being seen within the recommended time of 90 days, up from 62 per cent in 2022–23 to 63 per cent in 2023–24.
Figure 5: Median waiting time for planned surgery (days) — SA
Figure 6: Percentage of Category 2 planned surgery patients admitted within the recommended (90 days) — SA
Public hospital expenditure - South Australia
Figure 7: Per person average annual percentage increase in public hospital funding by government source (constant prices) — SA
|
2012‒13 to 2022‒23 |
2012‒13 to 2017‒18 |
2017‒18 to 2022‒23 |
| Federal |
1.85% |
0.77% |
2.95% |
| SA Government |
2.72% |
4.28% |
1.18% |
Figure 8: Public hospital funding, per person, by government source (constant prices) — SA
The most recent public hospital funding data are from 2022‒23. In South Australia, most public hospital funding (64 per cent) comes from the state government. This is largely in line with the national average of 61 per cent, even as most state and territories continue to take on most of the funding burden for our public hospital system.
