Launceston woman dies after nine-hour wait for hospital bed as health system faces increasing strain

Tasmanian patient in her 70s died while ramped in an ambulance waiting to be admitted to emergency department

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The death of a woman who spent nine hours ramped in an ambulance waiting to be admitted to a Tasmanian emergency department has highlighted dire staffing and resourcing issues across Australian hospitals.

A health union has confirmed a woman in her early 70s was taken to Launceston general hospital around midnight on Friday and died at 9am the following morning.

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