Ramping remains lower in 2026 than for the same period in 2025, with 306 hours less time lost on the ramp in the year to date. This is despite increases in emergency department presentations (up 3.6 per cent), ambulance transports (2.4 per cent) and 000 calls (up 7.9 per cent).
The total number of hours lost on the ramp for April 2026 was 3,949 – an increase of 199 hours on the previous month (March 2026) and an increase of 249 hours on the same month last year (April 2025).
We again saw higher activity this month, with triple zero calls being 8.4 per cent higher than in the same period last year, and ED presentations to metropolitan public hospitals being 2 per cent higher.
Compared to March 2026, the largest reduction was seen at the Lyell McEwin Hospital, which dropped almost 4 per cent, from 862 hours in March to 830 hours in April.
At Central Adelaide Local Health Network, ramping was down 24.3 per cent in April 2026 compared to the same time last year.
There are currently about 373 older South Australians stuck in metro hospitals and other SA Health sites, ready for discharge but waiting for a Federal Government aged care bed.
Across hospitals, average inpatient bed occupancy increased, which reflects higher patient volumes, while the average length of stay decreased, showing improved patient flow and more efficient care. More patients were also discharged each day compared with last year, highlighting efforts to move patients through the system.
The increase in ED presentations comes as the state enters flu season and the return of cooler, wetter weather which has already seen ED presentations related to respiratory infections, including influenza, increase by 12.7 per cent from March to April.
That's why vaccinations form a key part of the SA Health 2026 Winter Demand Plan, with a new influenza vaccination campaign encouraging people to stay well and out of hospital.
Importantly, the Winter Plan includes more hospital beds, increased virtual care options and stronger partnerships with private hospitals.
More than 230 beds have been added to the system since May 2025, including the recently opened transition care service at College Grove, which will have 50 beds by mid-year to support older patients who no longer need hospital care but have nowhere to go.
We continue to meet our Priority 1 response target and are seeing encouraging improvements in Priority 2 lights and sirens response times, meaning more South Australians are receiving urgent ambulance care sooner.
Ambulances reached 72.1 per cent of Priority 1 cases in the target timeframe of eight minutes, compared to 76.9 per cent in March 2026.
Ambulances reached 68.4 per cent of Priority 2 cases in the target 16-minute timeframe in April 2026, compared to 65.4 per cent in March 2026.
Full ramping data – including a hospital-by-hospital breakdown – can be found here.
Information regarding patients waiting for residential aged care can be found here.
As put by Blair Boyer
Demand for healthcare continues to grow, particularly as we head into flu season, and we are being open about the pressures that creates.
At the same time, we are seeing stability and improvement across a number of key measures, which shows the system is responding.
We know winter places additional pressure on hospitals and ambulance services, which is why we have been preparing early.
Our Winter Demand Plan is focused on increasing capacity, improving patient flow and supporting care outside hospital where appropriate.
Improving patient flow is central to easing pressure across the system, from ambulances to emergency departments and wards.
That's why we're investing in additional beds, transition care and new models of care that help patients move safely through the system.
