President’s Update: Five years lost on the ramp

Five years lost on the ramp

The AMA released its 2025 Ambulance Ramping Report Card last week. While it didn’t reveal anything unexpected, the data highlights just how serious the ambulance ramping problem has become in this state in a relatively short period of time.

The total number of hours South Australians spent on ambulance ramps has nearly tripled in five years, increasing from 15,239 hours in the 2019-20 financial year to 45,399 hours (or more than five years in total hours) in 2023-24. 

SA Health aims to transfer 90% of cases from ambulance paramedics to hospital clinical staff within 30 minutes. The report card indicates that it’s falling well below that target: 47.3% of patients were transferred within the 30-minute timeframe during 2023-24, a 7% improvement on the previous year but a 16.5% deterioration over the previous five years. 

As I mentioned in my last President’s Update, we must not lose sight of the real people represented in this type of data and the health professionals who are tasked to care for them without the basic resources they require.  

We doctors understand that ramping is the symptom, not the disease. It’s for this reason that on 9 May, AMA SA will host our Access to Care Round Table to address the factors underpinning ramping and bed block. On behalf of our members, we’re bringing together a range of healthcare leaders from general practice, aged care, mental health and the public and private hospital sectors, to consider innovative ways to improve access to and the coordination of primary care, to keep our patients healthy and away from hospitals. 

We expect the round table will deliver actionable and measurable recommendations we can take to the South Australian Government ahead of the Budget and next year’s state election. We’re taking this action for you, our members. Watch this space for updates on our progress.
 

A meeting with the Health Minister 

Last week, our regular meeting with Health Minister Chris Picton enabled CEO Nicole Sykes and I to outline our plans for the Round Table. We were joined by SA Health CE Dr Robyn Lawrence, who is also giving us her time on 9 May.

Among other topics, we sought an update on planning for the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, with the Minister noting that the imminent appointment of an architect will enable further consultation to continue.
 

Early voting underway

Australia’s been in federal election-mode for what feels like a very long time, but we’re finally nearing the finish line. Polling day is just over a week away and early voting has already begun. 

The AMA has been front and centre throughout the campaign calling for immediate action to ‘Modernise Medicare’. We’ve also been seeking commitments from political parties to address growing threats to private health sector sustainability. 

Last week the Federal AMA launched its 2025 Federal Election Platform, which sets out our priorities. I encourage you to read the platform and provide your feedback through our Member Feedback Portal.
 

AMA Federal Election Platform

AMA SA Member Feedback Portal

Lest we forget

Before I go, I wish to take a moment to reflect on Anzac Day. On behalf of our members and colleagues, I acknowledge the men and women who have served and are serving in the Australian Defence Force, including the doctors, nurses, and medical personnel whose expertise and care in times of conflict is so critical. Their commitment to saving lives, often under the most challenging conditions, exemplifies the highest standards of our profession. 

Often these doctors carry with them the emotional scars of their service. It’s important to remember that help is available through services such as Drs4Drs and Doctors’ Health SA. No one should carry the burden of their service alone.
 

Yours in good health, 
John