A Broken Promise?
In the 2022 South Australian state election, Labor won on a promise to tackle the ambulance ramping crisis. However, halfway through their first term, the situation has worsened.
Ambulance ramping occurs when paramedics are forced to wait with patients in the emergency department due to a lack of available beds. Under Labor, ramping hours have increased from 2,700 per month to over 4,000 per month.
The government has invested heavily in new ambulance stations, staff, and hospital beds. They aim to improve response times, particularly for the most urgent cases, to 2018 levels.
The Liberal opposition argues that Labor has broken its promise, pointing to the worsening statistics. They believe ramping will be a key issue in the next election.
Political analyst Clem Macintyre believes Labor will likely retain office regardless of the ramping situation. He suggests voters may penalize Labor but will still view them favorably overall.
The Ambulance Employees Association, crucial to Labor's campaign, remains supportive but expresses frustration over the lack of improvement. They believe the government needs to turn the situation around in the remaining years of their term.
Ramping is a symptom of broader problems in public health, including bed block and a shortage of aged care and NDIS places. These issues are largely the responsibility of the federal government.
Labor's promise to fix the ramping crisis remains unfulfilled. Whether voters will hold them accountable in 2026 remains to be seen. The government's success in addressing the underlying issues will likely play a significant role in determining the outcome.