A man in his 60s has died on Tasmania’s west coast after waiting nearly 80 minutes for an ambulance to respond to a medical emergency. The incident occurred on Saturday in the Zeehan area, where the man had called Triple Zero reporting chest pains and breathing difficulties.
Staffing Shortages Cited
According to the Health and Community Services Union (HACSU), the local ambulance in Zeehan was unstaffed at the time due to an unfilled roster gap. Nearby crews in Strahan and Queenstown were reportedly occupied with other calls, forcing dispatchers to send an ambulance from Burnie, located approximately 140 kilometres away. By the time the crew arrived, the man had already passed away.
HACSU state secretary Robbie Moore stated that the call was classified as a "priority one" case, which typically warrants an immediate response. Moore noted that attempts to secure volunteers to staff the Zeehan vehicle were unsuccessful, highlighting an urgent need for more permanent paramedics in the region.
Broader Healthcare Concerns
This tragedy follows a similar incident less than two weeks ago in Hobart, where an investigation was launched after a man died while his family attempted to drive him to the hospital due to ambulance unavailability. Labor MP Ella Haddad described the latest death as "unthinkable," calling for increased investment in regional healthcare.
Tasmania’s Health Minister, Bridget Archer, expressed condolences to the family, stating that any such death is a tragedy. The Department of Health has been contacted for comment regarding the staffing gaps and the circumstances surrounding the response.
