Ray of Light Amid Darkening Health Crisis

‘Over the course of the past six months, there’s been a 45 percent reduction in ramping here at the Lyell McEwin Hospital.’

A general view of an ambulance in Brisbane, Australia, on Sept. 23, 2022. AAP Image/Russell Freeman

One hospital’s innovative solution to soaring demand and waiting times has raised hopes its success can be replicated across South Australia’s ailing health system.

The state is suffering from a hospital capacity crunch, punctuated by elective surgery cancellations and record ramping where patients are stuck outside a hospital in an ambulance waiting for a bed to come free.