SA Health's Ramping Crisis Spin Backfires

0:00This is Sydney News Today, every story, every city, every day. A South Australian Health Minister's office tried to counter a critical story on the state's ramping crisis but sent the wrong information, sparking a major backlash. Bronwyn Patterson shared how her partner, Stephen King, died after waiting hours for an ambulance and then being ramped outside Royal Adelaide Hospital. When journalists sought a response from SA Health, the office forwarded a 2023 email supposedly from King praising the health system. It turned out to be from a different man with the same name. The mix of came right after Patterson's interview on Friday, alongside opposition leaders and coincided with new ramping stats showing ambulances. Stuck for 3,616 hours that month. Labor had promised to fix ramping before the election but has seen record levels under their watch. The email was meant for reporters' consideration but only fueled more scrutiny. Minister Chris Picton and Premier Peter Malanowskas quickly apologized unreservedly to both

1:02Patterson and the other Stephen King. They called the error unacceptable and said the email should never have been sent, even if it was from the right person. Malanowskas insisted it was about providing full facts for transparency, not discrediting the story. Picton has defended fact-checking patient claims in the past but drew a line between that and this blunder. Reporters pressed the premiere on Monday about whether it was spent to undermine Patterson, which he denied. The government now faces questions on balancing privacy with defending its record. Two weeks from polling day, this has become one of Labour's biggest public relations headaches, pulling focus back to ramping amid their push-on. Housing and costs. What started as routine spend has backfired, reminding everyone how quickly things can go wrong in politics. Take thanks to today's sponsor, see the description for more.