Media Release | 1 July 2025
Libby Mettam
Shadow Health Minister
Ambulance ramping hours across regional hospitals in Western Australia soared to a new record in June.
Shadow Health Minister Libby Mettam said the record 245 hours of ramping was further evidence of the Cook Labor Government’s continuing neglect of the State’s regional health services.
“Emergency departments are under extreme pressure and when ambulances are ramped outside hospitals they cannot respond to other emergencies,” Ms Mettam said.
“Each of these hours represents the potential for tragedy in regional centres where ambulance resources are already limited.
“Unlike in the metropolitan area, where other nearby ambulance districts can step in, the only backup for regional centres can be hundreds of kilometres away.
Ms Mettam said the Cook Government Budget, despite delivering another record surplus of $2.4 billion, was a litany of missed opportunities and neglect for regional health services.
“The redevelopment of Bunbury Regional hospital is still not complete, the redevelopment of the Geraldton Hospital is the most-delayed government project in the state, while the Margaret River Hospital was completely overlooked,” she said.
“These ramping hours point to a hospital system under immense pressure, which is putting doctors, nurses, midwives and healthcare workers under undue stress and patients at risk.
“When will the Premier and his Health Minister wake up, stop telling us how proud they are of the
health system, admit there is a crisis and fix the problem?”
“It is an insult to Western Australians to constantly deny what is a serious problem.”
Ms Mettam said the Cook Labor Government had been slow to incentivise staff to work in regional
areas and continued to refuse to answer questions in parliament about the location of the 800 extra
hospital beds they claim to have created since 2021.
“The Cook Labor government is failing to provide regional Western Australians with a health service they expect and deserve,” Ms Mettam said.
“The Treasurer continues to crow about her budget surplus but is deaf to the health needs of regional Western Australia.”
ENDS
Media contact: Denice Rice 0417 755 176
