South Australian ambulance response times have come under scrutiny following the tragic death of a man at the site of a single-vehicle accident in Sellicks Hill on Saturday. Emergency services were alerted to a cardiac arrest linked to a seizure, prompting an upgrade to a priority-one response—the highest urgency level—within two minutes of the initial alert.
Despite this classified urgency, the first ambulance crew did not arrive until over 15 minutes had passed. According to Paul Ekkelboom from the Ambulance Union, the crew was approximately 17 to 18 minutes away when they got the call. Fortunately, bystanders at the scene were performing CPR and had accessed a defibrillator, which they put to use while waiting for professional help.
An intensive care paramedic eventually reached the scene 16 minutes later, with another crew arriving in half an hour. Unfortunately, the man, believed to be in his 70s, was pronounced dead at the scene. While South Australian government guidelines dictate an eight-minute response time for priority-one cases in urban areas, officials clarified that this incident occurred outside metropolitan limits.
Rob Elliott from the South Australian Ambulance Service (SAAS) expressed the commitment to respond as quickly as possible, stating that this incident represented the fastest response they could muster in the circumstances. He stressed the importance of maintaining effective regional coverage and resource availability.
In light of the incident, the opposition has called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the man’s death. Health spokesperson Ashton Hurn described the situation as tragic, emphasising the need for answers for both the affected family and the community at large.
This incident occurs during a challenging time for emergency departments, which are currently under considerable pressure due to flu season, with many hospitals struggling to accommodate the influx of patients. Health Minister Chris Picton acknowledged the strain on resources and confirmed efforts are underway to secure additional bed space to alleviate the burden.
In summary, this incident has highlighted the critical importance of ambulance response times, regional healthcare challenges, and the need for ongoing improvements to ensure timely interventions in emergency situations.