Ramping hits a new all-time record with ambulances stranded outside WA hospitals for 7000 hours in July
The alarming figure passes the previous record of 6972 hours that was set in July 2022, at the height of the COVID pandemic.
Shadow Health Minister Libby Mettam said it's a result of 'neglect' of the State's health system.
'When an ambulance is parked outside an emergency department it means other patients requiring urgent medical care are left waiting,' she said on Friday.
'Ramped ambulances are more than just a sign of emergency departments under pressure, they are a clear sign our entire hospital system is under unsustainable pressure.'
On Thursday, the State's health boss has blamed a severe flu season, that had been worse than expected and has resulted in 2325 hospital admissions so far.
'We try and push, pull and move and assist but I couldn't magic up more beds or staff in any great volumes,' WA Health Director-General Shirley Bowen said.
She said the old way is 'not coping' with an influx of older, more complicated, patients and that a 'new model of care' will take time.
Geriatricians are being deployed to assist emergency departments and Labor has promised to establish three 'older adult hubs' to help keep seniors out of hospital.
'We will hopefully get the first one online by December,' Dr Bowen said.
Virtual care from nurses, instead of doctors, is also being ramped up.
'We're commencing that work in a couple of weeks to hopefully improve access,' Dr Bowen said.
'I won't have that fully done for next winter, but hopefully over the two to three years it will take us to completely reform that.
'It's very important that we try and change the model of care.'
The Australian Medical Association has called for urgent efforts to radically increase hospital capacity.
The State Budget has included funding to expand Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital's intensive care unit, and begin planing for expansions of emergency departments at Royal Perth Hospital and Midland - but no date for construction.
'We say a lot that ramping is bad, the hospital system is under pressure,' AMA WA president Kyle Hoath said.
'This is what happens when we aren't adequately resources and we're in the midst of a horror flu season and that will impact our hospitals and waiting times, ramping and then it happens, and we're not surprised.
'I don't believe we have that plan in place now to a level that would keep me happy. I do actually have confidence that (the Government) are prepared to do the work for that plan. I'm hearing the right things. . . it needs to be followed up.'
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