MEDIA RELEASE
The Ambulance Employees Association (AEA) of South Australia has today released its formal Position Statement on Ramping, developed through extensive consultation with AEA members across the ambulance service workforce.
The position statement reflects the experience and expertise of frontline paramedics, ambulance officers, Triple Zero call takers, ambulance coordinators, operational leaders, educators and support services staff across the entire ambulance service.
The AEA’s position is unequivocal: ramping is preventable, dangerous and unacceptable.
Ramping compromises patient care reduces ambulance availability and leaves South Australians waiting longer for emergency assistance. It also places unacceptable pressure on ambulance workers, who are required to care for patients for prolonged periods without access to an appropriate hospital environment.
The AEA is calling on all South Australian political parties to adopt a formal position on ambulance ramping and develop clear, evidence-based policies aimed at eliminating the practice.
Ramping is a policy choice. The AEA calls on the State Government to adopt a formal policy commitment to eliminate ramping and implement a system-wide reform agenda addressing the underlying causes of hospital access block.
The position statement identifies six key policy priorities:
- immediate investment in hospital, aged care, disability and mental health capacity;
- genuine 24-hour, seven-day hospital operations;
- seven-day hospital discharge capability;
- expanded and properly staffed transit wards 24/7;
- centralised statewide patient-flow coordination; and
- expanded alternative care pathways outside public emergency departments.
The AEA is also calling for full public transparency on all ambulance response times, ramping, and daily patient discharge rates across South Australia’s hospitals.
This position statement sets out what ambulance workers believe is required from all political parties and governments if South Australia is serious about eliminating ramping and restoring timely and equitable emergency care.
Quotes attributable to AEA General Secretary Paul Ekkelboom
“This position statement brings together the experience and knowledge of our members from across the ambulance service, including all frontline workers including paramedics, ambulance officers, triple zero call takers, ambulance coordinators and of the support staff that make our ambulance service function.”
“Our members see the consequences of ramping every day. They see patients waiting longer for ambulances, crews unable to return to the community and patients remaining outside hospitals when they should be receiving definitive care.”
“The AEA’s position is clear: ramping is preventable, dangerous and unacceptable. Ramping is a policy choice. It must not be accepted as an inevitable part of South Australia’s health system.”
“We are calling on every political party to clearly state its position on ramping and put forward credible policies aimed at eliminating it.”
“We are also calling on the State Government to adopt a formal policy commitment to eliminate ramping and implement system-wide reforms required to achieve that objective.”
“Ending ramping requires sustained reform in our health system, transparent reporting and long-term investment across hospitals, aged care, mental health, disability services and alternative care pathways.”
The AEA Position Statement on Ramping is available at our website aeasa.com.au
Media contact:
Paul Ekkelboom, AEA General Secretary
0412 201 774
Authorised by AEA General Secretary Paul Ekkelboom