A Tasmanian hospital where paramedics had to hit an emergency alarm to get a three-year-old boy treated has been ordered to reopen beds.
Unions have been urging the Tasmanian Government to open more beds at the Royal Hobart Hospital to address ambulances “ramping” – an issue that occurs when ambulances cannot offload patients because of a lack of beds.
Paramedics cited the case of a boy with breathing difficulties who waited 90 minutes to be seen, because there was no room in the emergency department at the weekend.
The Australian Paramedics Association said the boy’s condition deteriorated during the wait, and he was only admitted when paramedics hit an emergency alarm.
Health Minister Michael Ferguson has directed work to start on reopening the former Nell Williams Unit immediately to address capacity issues.
“I’ve made a directive that that work needs to begin immediately,” he said.
“Quite naturally I want to see outcomes in a short space of time but we obviously want to do it professionally as well and we want to see those additional beds and capacity coming online now.”
Reopening the unit was a pre-election commitment and the Minister said it should provide up to four extra beds.