AMA calls for funding from the major parties for hospitals this election
The waiting time for ambulances to transport patients to overcrowded hospitals – is deteriorating across Australia, prompting urgent calls from the medical community for action ahead of the federal election.
A new report by the Australian Medical Association (AMA) has revealed a national decline in the timely transfer of patients from ambulances to emergency departments over the past five years. In 2023-24, only 78% of patients were transferred within 30 minutes – well below the benchmark of 90% achieved in 2018-19.
Victoria has seen a 13% decrease in timely transfers since 2019, while Queensland has seen a 17.6% decrease. In South Australia, despite a slight improvement in the most recent year, the overall five-year performance still reflects a 16.5 per cent decline.
The AMA says the figures point to deep systemic issues in Australia’s public hospitals, with AMA president Dr Danielle McMullen calling on both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton to prioritise hospital funding in their election manifestos.
“Emergency departments are struggling to move patients to beds because of lack of resources and discharge blockades,” said Dr McMullen. “Our hospital and ambulance staff are doing an incredible job under tremendous pressure, but the system is at breaking point.”
“In some states, transfer times have more than doubled in just five years. The human and financial cost of these delays is enormous – and growing,” he added.
The doctors are now calling for a comprehensive five-year national health reform agreement between the federal government and the states to ensure sustainable funding for hospitals.
While Mr. Albanese signed a short-term agreement last year, the AMA insists more is needed to address long-term capacity problems.
