Source : Perth Now news
A shortage of ambulance crews contributed to the deaths of two elderly patients left stranded for hours, a coroner has found.
The patients, an 89-year-old woman and an 80-year-old man, died at Royal Darwin Hospital in February 2026, sparking an investigation by Northern Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage.
Formal inquests were not held for their deaths, triggered by falls.
In a report released on Friday, Judge Armitage cited St John Ambulance saying demand growth for ambulance services in the NT had significantly outpaced funding.
“As demand has increased, response rates have become slower due to insufficient staffing levels to manage demand.”
The woman fell at her aged care home and waited for an ambulance for more than five hours.
The man fell at home and waited on the floor for an ambulance for more than six hours.
Forensic pathologists who reviewed their medical records concluded that their “long lies” on the floor caused by ambulance delay contributed to their deaths, the coroner said.
St John NT did not contest the conclusions, Judge Armitage said.
The patients had existing medical conditions.
Following a review, St John advised the delays were not caused by incorrect prioritisation but by concurrent emergency demand.
The NT has the highest ambulance demand rate per capita of any Australian ambulance service.
Following the incidents, the NT government provided an additional $10 million for ambulance services.
St John NT told the coroner it would use the money to improve operations and better align resources with periods of highest demand.
But the additional investment did not fully address the capacity gap, it said.
St John NT is working with the NT government on a long-term service agreement.
