By XAVIER SMERDON
AMBULANCES are being forced to wait to unload patients at Werribee Mercy Hospital for an extra 85 hours every month when compared to 2010, new figures have revealed.
Member for Altona, Jill Hennessy released figures obtained under Freedom of Information laws last week which showed that ramping at the biggest hospital in Wyndham had increased to 1856 hours during the 12 months to June 2013, which was an increase of 1019 hours since 2010.
“These documents prove what doctors, nurses and paramedics have been saying for a long time now – that our health system has never been as bad as it is now,” Ms Hennessy said.
“In an emergency, every minute counts, but at Werribee Mercy ambulances are being forced to wait an extra 85 hours each month, because the emergency department is full.
“It is creating a dangerous set of circumstances where delays could be deadly, which has already claimed several lives across the state this year.”
Ms Hennessy said almost every hospital in Victoria recorded an increase in ramping, showing a widespread problem in the health system.
“The very first thing Mr Napthine needs to do is stop bragging about his health system and admit there is a crisis. You will never fix a problem until you
Dr Linda Mellors, the Executive Director of Health Services at Mercy Health, said the hospital’s staff were always working to improve the emergency department performance to meet increasing demand.
“This includes investment in new equipment, more effective liaison with local GPs and changes to our short stay unit,” Dr Mellors said.
“The hospital has also recorded one of Victoria’s lowest 2012-13 monthly averages for the amount of time taken to transfer patients from ambulances into emergency departments.”
