Health emergencies are no joke. These situations often tread a thin line between life and death, and time plays a significant role in the outcome.

An older man's plight recently cast a harsh light on the state of our healthcare system.

It raised serious questions about the efficiency and humanity of our medical services.

Bernard Anthony Skeffington, 89, endured a harrowing ordeal which began with a prolonged wait for an ambulance after dialling 000.

It took three hours and 42 minutes for help to arrive, a delay that is difficult to comprehend in a life-threatening situation.

Upon reaching the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Bernard was forced to stay in the ambulance for almost two hours due to 'ramping'—a term for patients left in ambulances outside hospitals due to the hospital's limited capacity.

Ambulances are emergency vehicles that should not be delayed at all costs. Image Credit: Pexels/Pavel Danilyuk

Paramedic Stacey White's testimony at the inquest revealed the desperate measures she took to get help for Skeffington—which included banging the ambulance windows.

'It was clear to us he required urgent assistance. He vomited out of both nostrils and his mouth,' she said.

'The colour suggested a faecal vomit, which was an indication of a serious acute condition. There was a high risk Mr Skeffington might aspirate.'

Her feelings of powerlessness and distress were sobering reminders of the toll systemic failures can cause.

Four days after the incident, Skeffington succumbed due to aspiration pneumonia secondary to a small bowel obstruction.

The inquest is not only examining Bernard's case but also the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Anna Vincenza Panella, 76, and Graham Henry Jessett, 64, who also succumbed due to ambulance delays.

These cases are grim illustrations of broader issues in the healthcare system—including the controversial practice of ramping.

Former triage nurse Jenese Heywood cited ramping as a critical reason for leaving the healthcare profession, describing it as an 'everyday stressful experience'.

Deputy State Coroner Ian White invited Skeffington's son—a former nurse—to an inquest to provide statements to the court.

The statements acknowledged healthcare professionals' insights and those who have firsthand felt the impact of these tragedies.

The inquest, which started last week, will determine if the SA Ambulance Service or the individual hospitals are to blame for the unfortunate event.

Many of us experienced the anxiety of needing urgent medical care.

It's crucial to ask whether the healthcare system is meeting the needs of Australia's ageing population.

The ongoing inquest will shed light on these critical questions and lead to necessary reforms.

In the meantime, it's crucial to be aware of our rights when it comes to healthcare and to advocate for ourselves and our loved ones.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Skeffington family.

Key Takeaways

• Adelaide resident Bernard Anthony Skeffington suffered inside an ambulance while waiting for hospital admission.
• Paramedic Stacey White felt powerless and resorted to desperate measures for assistance, as Mr Skeffington required urgent help.
• The inquest into Mr Skeffington's death, along with two others, examined the impact of ambulance delays on patient outcomes and the responsibilities of the SA Ambulance Service and hospitals.
• Experiences of ramping, which lead to ambulances queuing outside hospitals, contributed to one triage nurse's decision to leave healthcare, highlighting systemic issues within patient admission processes.

What changes do you think are needed to improve the healthcare system? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below.

 

[Abby2]

Surely things like healthcare, education and roads should be universal for all of Australia. There are too many tiers of government involved in this serious matter.

 

[SandyM]

Surely things like healcare, education and roads should be universal for all of Australia. There are too many tiers of government involved in this serious matter.

None of this affects politicians or other rich people in power. They pay to get the best of everything without giving a single thought to the rest of us. They just don't care!

 

[Sasha2016]

My husband is with the CFS and when he goes to accidents, there are usually four ambulances arrive, which i think is ridiculous.
Also I think all emergency departments should have a triag nurse, t see who needs emergency help or just needs to go home because of a cold or Gaston. They use to have triag nurses, in the 70 and 80s. What happened to that,. We never have wait hours in the emergency department.
THE HEATH SYSTEM HEAR SUCKS, AMBULANCE RAMPPING IT A DISGRASE.
WAKE AUS

TRALIA LABOUR IS DESTROYING OUR COUNRTY AND THEY BLAME EVERYONE ELSE
Chris

 

[Jo Piper3]

Rest in peace.

 

[Luckyus]

I have been subjected to this ramping, although not for as long and I've had one of the attending Paras with me at all times. However, what pisses me off, is that the hospital seems to want to put me in a DNR ward? I've told that I haven't fought a brain bleed, cancers and brain tumours only to be put in one of these wards if it happens again, I'll crawl out of the bloody hospital.

 

[DLHM]

My husband is with the CFS and when he goes to accidents, there are usually four ambulances arrive, which i think is ridiculous.
Also I think all emergency departments should have a triag nurse, t see who needs emergency help or just needs to go home because of a cold or Gaston. They use to have triag nurses, in the 70 and 80s. What happened to that,. We never have wait hours in the emergency department.
THE HEATH SYSTEM HEAR SUCKS, AMBULANCE RAMPPING IT A DISGRASE.
WAKE AUS

TRALIA LABOUR IS DESTROYING OUR COUNRTY AND THEY BLAME EVERYONE ELSE
Chris

“Also I think all emergency departments should have a triag nurse, t see who needs emergency help”….

Any hospital ED I’ve ever attended has always had at least one triage nurse to assess the priority of patients. Isn’t that a requirement at all ED’s?

 

[Veggiepatch]

My husband is with the CFS and when he goes to accidents, there are usually four ambulances arrive, which i think is ridiculous.
Also I think all emergency departments should have a triag nurse, t see who needs emergency help or just needs to go home because of a cold or Gaston. They use to have triag nurses, in the 70 and 80s. What happened to that,. We never have wait hours in the emergency department.
THE HEATH SYSTEM HEAR SUCKS, AMBULANCE RAMPPING IT A DISGRASE.
WAKE AUS

TRALIA LABOUR IS DESTROYING OUR COUNRTY AND THEY BLAME EVERYONE ELSE
Chris

Oh dear....

Blame the Government Of The Day for everything.

 

[MariaG]

Stop space exploration, building new submarines, don't put those orders in for new jets, etc, etc, then, put all those funds into the health system.
It's all about the budget, regardless or who is in power.

 

[marni]

“Also I think all emergency departments should have a triag nurse, t see who needs emergency help”….

Any hospital ED I’ve ever attended has always had at least one triage nurse to assess the priority of patients. Isn’t that a requirement at all ED’s?

My daughter had gall stones. Could not be seen because of back log of ambulances. The triage nurse was just so frustrated as she could not get her seen to. We will call ambulance next time. We are fortunate to have out of hours clinic nearby but they have to send you the ED of the nearest hospital

 

[Luckyus]

My daughter had gall stones. Could not be seen because of back log of ambulances. The triage nurse was just so frustrated as she could not get her seen to. We will call ambulance next time. We are fortunate to have out of hours clinic nearby but they have to send you the ED of the nearest hospital

By the time your, the gallstones have into bastard boulders.

 

[marni]

Stop space exploration, building new submarines, don't put those orders in for new jets, etc, etc, then, put all those funds into the health system.
It's all about the budget, regardless or who is in power.

So with no spending on defence you just want us living under communist rule of China. Yes great idea

 

[IAN3005]

I have been subjected to this ramping, although not for as long and I've had one of the attending Paras with me at all times. However, what pisses me off, is that the hospital seems to want to put me in a DNR ward? I've told that I haven't fought a brain bleed, cancers and brain tumours only to be put in one of these wards if it happens again, I'll crawl out of the bloody hospital.

After a stroke my mother was kept waiting for hours in a corridor before a Dr could see her. Result...... too late to do anything so she sat for 5 years unable to do anything, unable to speak at all.... just waiting to die.

 

[MariaG]

So with no spending on defence you just want us living under communist rule of China. Yes great idea

Gee....over-reaction.
Nobody said anything about STOPPING spending. In the eye of the beholder I guess.
I suppose if the red peril hits our shores, we could be sure we have the latest and most expensive Subs and Jets, but just deal with an inferior health system to treat the victims.

 

[Asiew]

The healthcare system has challenges, and stories like this highlight areas needing improvement, especially in emergency care. One way to alleviate some of the strain is through better resource management, like pulmonology billing outsourcing. By outsourcing administrative tasks, healthcare providers can redirect their focus and resources toward patient care, ensuring smoother operations and avoiding such distressing experiences.

 

[marni]

Stop space exploration, building new submarines, don't put those orders in for new jets, etc, etc, then, put all those funds into the health system.
It's all about the budget, regardless or who is in power.

We received a budget statement when we paid our tax bill. Welfare was the major spend more than education, hospitals and defence combined.

 

[IAN3005]

We received a budget statement when we paid our tax bill. Welfare was the major spend more than education, hospitals and defence combined.

And it will get worse as people who are on the breadline will migrate to wanting more over-processed food... obesity will become a REAL problem and the associated ailments will push it even further...just saying..... this is the cause of most of the health problems in the USA.