Health System Responds to Rising Winter Demand Across South Australia

South Australia's health system is continuing to manage rising demand, with ramping figures remaining lower in 2026 compared to the same period last year despite significant increases in emergency activity.

Year-to-date ramping hours are down by 306 hours compared with 2025, even as emergency department presentations have risen by 3.6 per cent, ambulance transports increased by 2.4 per cent and triple zero calls climbed by 7.9 per cent.

In April 2026, total ramping hours reached 3,949 - up 199 hours from March and 249 hours higher than April 2025. The increase comes amid heightened winter pressures, including a rise in respiratory illnesses across the state.

Triple zero calls in April were 8.4 per cent higher than the same period last year, while emergency department presentations at metropolitan public hospitals increased by 2 per cent.

Despite the broader demand, some hospitals recorded improvements. Lyell McEwin Hospital saw the largest monthly reduction in ramping, falling from 862 hours in March to 830 hours in April. Across the Central Adelaide Local Health Network, ramping decreased by 24.3 per cent compared with April last year.

Pressure on hospitals continues to be compounded by delayed aged care placements, with around 373 older South Australians currently remaining in metropolitan hospitals and SA Health sites while waiting for Federal Government aged care beds.

Hospitals also experienced higher average bed occupancy due to increased patient volumes. However, the average length of stay fell, reflecting improved patient flow and more efficient care, while daily discharge numbers also increased compared with last year.

The onset of flu season and cooler weather has contributed to growing demand, with emergency presentations linked to respiratory infections, including influenza, rising by 12.7 per cent between March and April.

SA Health's 2026 Winter Demand Plan aims to ease pressure on the system through expanded hospital capacity, increased virtual care services and stronger collaboration with private hospitals. More than 230 additional beds have been added since May 2025, including the new transition care service at College Grove, which is expected to provide 50 beds by mid-year for older patients awaiting alternative care arrangements.

Ambulance response performance for the most urgent cases remains within target. Ambulances reached 72.1 per cent of Priority 1 cases within the eight-minute target timeframe in April, compared with 76.9 per cent in March. Priority 2 response times improved, with 68.4 per cent of cases reached within 16 minutes, up from 65.4 per cent the previous month.

Health Minister Blair Boyer said demand on the health system continues to grow as the state enters winter, but improvements across several key measures show the system is adapting to the pressure.

He said the Winter Demand Plan focuses on increasing capacity, improving patient flow and supporting care outside hospital settings where appropriate, with additional beds, transition care services and new models of care designed to help patients move safely and efficiently through the system.