With an entire month to go in 2024, checked-out Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson has delivered more ambulance ramping, compared to the entirety of 2023, according to Libby Mettam, WA Liberal Leader.

“In Parliament last week, part-time Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson claimed, ‘we have seen a reduction of those ramping hours’ but the latest data from St John shows that’s a lie,” said Ms Mettam.

“We still have December to go, but Amber-Jade Sanderson’s record speaks for itself – 2024 is already worse than 2023 for ambulance ramping.

“In fact, 2024 is already the second worst year on record for ambulance ramping in WA – only 2022 is worse, also on Amber-Jade Sanderson’s watch.”

In 2024, WA has already recorded 53,841 hours of ambulance ramping, while 2023 saw 52,083 hours, and 2022 recorded 66,384 hours.

“We learned over the weekend Labor’s Health Minister has one foot out the door, so it’s no wonder our health system is in crisis,” said Ms Mettam.

“The Minister is more interested in finding her next job than fixing the crises in WA’s health system.

“If Labor thinks they are fixing ambulance ramping, they well and truly have their heads in the sand – the outcomes are going backwards, and the numbers prove it.

“But ambulance ramping is more than just a number – every hour an ambulance sits on a ramp is an hour the patient inside is not receiving hospital care and an hour the ambulance can’t help other patients.”

Despite Labor’s claim ramping is trending down, it has trended up throughout 2024.

“Roger Cook said 1,000 hours of ramping was a crisis, but WA hasn’t had less than 1,000 hours in a month since April 2020 – they are not up to the job of running WA’s health system.

“WA is living in an era of out-of-control ramping, exhausted and overworked healthcare professionals, unprecedented elective surgery and specialist wait lists, and unacceptable patient deaths, all because of this Labor Government’s inaction. “Roger Cook and Labor say they are proud of their record in health but after overseeing crisis after crisis, there is nothing to be proud of.”