WITH the recent bad press it has had concerning ambulance ramping, Ipswich Hospital is glad to have some good news in the area. The hospital is showing some signs of improvement in ambulance lost time, despite ongoing pressures on its Emergency Department (ED).
Data for the September 2023 quarter has revealed an average improvement in ambulance lost time of two minutes per ambulance, down from 36.4 minutes in the September 2022 quarter to 34.4 minutes.
There was also improvement in the month of September 2023 alone, with the average ambulance lost time of 29.2 minutes down from 37.3 minutes in September 2022.
Lost time refers to any additional minutes above the recommended 30-minute timeframe to transfer a patient off a Queensland Ambulance Service stretcher and into the ED treatment bay.
Ipswich Hospital continues to see high volumes of patients presenting to its ED, including more patients with multiple comorbidities, extensive illness and complex needs.
Between 2018 and 2023, the ED has seen acuity (categories 1 and 2) increase 44% and total presentations increase 12%.
In the past 18 months, West Moreton Health has undertaken a substantial body of work to alleviate demand pressure and improve patient flow within the Ipswich Hospital ED. West Moreton Health chief executive Hannah Bloch said it was pleasing to see those efforts having a positive impact.
“Our community can be assured we are committed to providing them with high-quality care when and where they need it,” she said.
