Woman left on emergency department floor after four-hour wait at Adelaide’s Noarlunga hospital

A 71‑year‑old woman says she spent four hours on the floor of a busy Adelaide emergency department after being deemed “fit to sit” despite struggling to breathe.

Ginny Chalmer was taken by ambulance to Noarlunga Hospital last Wednesday after a virus exacerbated an existing lung condition.

Chalmer was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease earlier this year.

But after arriving at the emergency department, Chalmer says she was directed to wait in the waiting room and eventually ended up lying on the floor because she felt too unwell to sit.

“It happened to me, but it isn’t actually about me. I just think that it shouldn’t happen,” she told 7NEWS.

The southern suburbs woman said she remained on the floor for four hours while receiving treatment and waiting to be seen.

SA Health has since apologised and confirmed the incident is being reviewed.

“We do not put patients on the floor treatment,” a spokesperson told 7NEWS.

It acknowledged care can begin in emergency department waiting rooms when appropriate.

Acting SA Health Minister Joe Szakacs said there will be a review of Chalmer’s care.

“This will be reviewed. The local health network, as well as the minister’s office, have spoken to the individual in question,” he said.

The incident comes as pressure on the state’s hospital system continues to intensify.

When Chalmer’s attended Noarlunga Hospital, there were 497 patients across South Australia’s hospitals waiting for aged‑care placements, a figure that has reached record levels in recent weeks.

Shadow health minister Jack Batty said the incident highlighted the strain on the system.