Man dies in Brisbane after two-hour ambulance wait following chest pain call

Why This Matters

• A death that followed a two-hour wait raises questions about ambulance prioritisation and whether patients are being asked to self-transport when it may not be safe.
• The case adds to public concern about ambulance response times and the strain on Queensland's health system.
• The outcome of the internal review may shape how QAS handles similar calls in future.

Background

Ambulance services across Australia have faced rising demand and scrutiny over response times in recent years, with hospital capacity pressures often leaving paramedics waiting to hand over patients. In this case, the man's call was coded IC, which QAS benchmarks at 27.2 minutes in 90 per cent of cases, but the crew arrived more than two hours later.

Key Perspectives

The patient: He called Triple Zero complaining of chest pain and shortness of breath, lived alone, and felt it was unsafe to drive in his condition, so he declined the suggestion to travel to the nearby hospital.

Queensland Ambulance Service: QAS categorised the call and asked whether he could make his own way to hospital. A spokesperson offered condolences and confirmed a review is under way.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls: He said the case, along with another death this week, highlighted pressure on the health system, and that incident reviews would ensure all procedures and protocols were followed.

Critics and sceptics: The gap between the 27.2-minute benchmark for his code and the actual two-hour wait may raise concerns about triage decisions and demand management. Chest pain can signal serious conditions, and asking a symptomatic caller to drive themselves carries risk.

What to Watch

• Findings of the QAS incident review into the death.
• Whether the review examines the decision to ask the man to self-transport.
• Any further statements from Queensland Health about ambulance demand and response times.