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New health department figures show everyday dozens of Tasmanians who called triple zero are being left to wait for an ambulance because there is not one available. The Opposition says the data is deeply concerning, while the health minister is blaming bed block and record demand for ambulances.

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00:01When Rosie Maddock fell over at a pathology appointment, the 75-year-old didn't expect to wait too long for
00:08medical help.
00:09But it took three hours for an ambulance to arrive.
00:14So I just laid there on the cold floor, cement floor, waiting for the ambulance to come.
00:22With blood clots and bruising in her leg, the fall in early May was serious enough to stay for a
00:28few weeks in hospital.
00:30My life wasn't in danger, but I don't think it helped my situation at all.
00:35She's not alone in having to wait longer than expected for an ambulance.
00:39New data obtained by the opposition shows there were 17,000 delayed activations last year,
00:45where the ambulance dispatch took at least three minutes.
00:49That's 46 a day, or about every seventh call, and up by 30% on the year prior.
00:56This is deeply concerning. Tasmanians should have confidence that there is an ambulance available for them when they need it.
01:03We've seen delays that have seen adverse health outcomes to Tasmanians. Lives are being put at risk.
01:10The paramedics union says bed block in hospitals is to blame, calling for more investment in beds and ambulances.
01:17The fastest way to get an ambulance back out on the road is to have that handover at the hospital
01:24occur as quickly as possible.
01:26The state government promised to ban ambulance ramping by setting a time limit for patients to be transferred from paramedics
01:32to the emergency department.
01:34The opposition's holding up these new figures as proof that that plan isn't working.
01:39The health minister, however, says it's freed up paramedics for thousands of hours.
01:45It's just that there are more calls coming in.
01:47Whilst I empathise with someone who may be waiting for that ambulance to arrive,
01:53that ambulance may well be attending to somebody that is having a medical episode of a higher acuity.
01:58That's right.
02:00I think it's hard to do in that respect.
02:04I think the problem is, as I mentioned, is what you wanted me to do within the room where is
02:05the car it mustimmunSON,
02:05But when we are looking at more clearly in regards to the family members the flight commissioner of primary prisoners'
02:05space,
02:05we provide us to the new transportation group for a normal auctioneerア Centro DoorD túin,
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