Bunbury Regional Hospital experiences second worst ramping result in July, with patients waiting 134.1 hours

Bunbury Regional Hospital recorded its second worst result for ramping in nine years as resources are stretched during the busy winter period. July saw St John WA ambulances spend a combined 134.1 hours waiting outside the hospital — its worst result in a year and second worst since data started being collected in July 2015. It comes amid a more than 40.2 per cent increase in ramping at the hospital during the first seven months of this year compared to the same time period last year. Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson put the blame on a flu spike, often seen during cooler parts of the year. “We know influenza season increases pressure on emergency departments right around the State, not just Bunbury Regional Hospital,” she said. “Despite this, ramping at the facility is lower than what it was at the same time last year.” Data from the Department of Health shows despite the significant ramping hours in July, the number of ambulance arrivals at Bunbury Regional Hospital transferred into WA Country Health Service care within 30 minutes improved slightly from 70.1 per cent in June to 70.8 per cent in July. But the figures vary depending on the day. On August 22, only 48 per cent of ambulance arrivals reached the milestone, while 90.9 per cent hit the target two days later on August 24. August is set to be the second worst month of the year for ramping at the hospital, with the St John WA data showing 114.1 hours being recorded as of Monday — surpassing the top total of 112.8 hours in February. Ms Sanderson said it was important to remember patients were prioritised for care based on how sick they were when they arrived. “This is regardless of their mode of transport and ensures high priority patients are seen before those with less serious conditions,” she said. A $451.1 million upgrade of the hospital has been announced, which will see expansions of the emergency department and increased operating theatre capacity. Early works are not slated to start until mid next year, but Ms Sanderson said initiatives to improve service delivery were in motion. “Capacity at Bunbury Regional Hospital was increased in late 2022 with the opening of a 30-bed modular ward,” she said. “To further bolster capacity at the facility, the State has also invested $8.9 million to support patient flow at some of regional WA’s busiest hospitals — including at Bunbury Regional Hospital.”