An elderly woman’s two-hour wait for an ambulance has reignited debate over Tasmania’s health priorities, as the state government unveils a multi-million-dollar upgrade to hospital infrastructure.
The incident came to light on social media after a north-west resident shared that her 80-year-old, terminally ill mother “had to lay in a gutter for almost two hours waiting for an ambulance” outside the IGA in West Ulverstone.
One social media user said seeing the woman on the ground on Wednesday left them “beyond saddened”.
“Not good enough … I went away in tears for this beautiful precious lady. Not the responders fault at all, just the system,” they said.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health has since apologised for the delay, saying the call was reclassified to a higher priority after further information was received via follow-up calls.
“We understand the distress that longer wait times for an ambulance response can cause and we always strive to make sure wait times are minimised,” the spokesperson said.
“Requests for an ambulance response are triaged by priority, based on the urgency of the case and the information that is available to us at the time.”
The case has drawn sharp criticism from Labor, with MP Anita Dow calling out the state government’s handling of healthcare services in the region.
“Right now at the North West Regional Hospital you can’t even get a car park when you roll up for your appointment,” she said.
“These are basic fundamental things that prevent people from getting access to timely health care.”
Premier Jeremy Rockliff this week announced nearly $57 million in upgrades for the North West Regional Hospital, to be included in the 2025–26 state budget.
“We have a bold vision for the North West Regional Hospital, one that will serve north-west Tasmanians for decades,” Rockliff said.
The investment includes a larger emergency department, a new ambulance drop-off area and additional parking facilities. It comes alongside a separate $40 million commitment to a new mental health precinct.
“The 2025-26 budget is all about delivering on the things that matter for Tasmanians, including record investment in our health system,” Rockliff said.
The state government today confirmed the health system will receive close to $10 million a day, as part of a record $14.5 billion funding package in the upcoming 2025–26 state budget.
