Tooth aches, sore throats and stubbed toes are clogging South Australia's hospitals, forcing the state government to modify its emergency treatment plans.
Health Minister Jack Snelling's three-pronged plan will allow community nurses to attend less serious emergency calls, give nurses more power to discharge patients and find more beds in hospitals across Adelaide.
The ambulance service says it's experiencing "unprecedented demand" with 50 per cent more triple zero calls made on Monday than the same time last year.
The persistent demand has led to many of the city's emergency units being clogged up with about 8500 presentations in the past week.
At its worst, 18 ambulances with patients were ramped at the new $2.4 billion Royal Adelaide Hospital.
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"Over the last 48 hours there's been some examples where people have dialled triple zero for an emergency ambulance that they simply do not need," SA Ambulance chief Jason Killens says.
"Callers in their 20s and 30s who have rung us for tooth ache, people who have rung us because they have stubbed their toe, people who have been to the toilet twice in an hour."
The unnecessary spike in demand has meant all non-urgent elective surgery has been postponed and patients moved to regional hospitals.
Those who don't need emergency treatment will now be told to seek alternative care through a GP or pharmacist, SA Health chief executive Vickie Kaminski says.
"For some patients not requiring paramedic support, the Royal District Nursing Service will also be able to provide in home support," she said.
"This will see fewer ambulances going to our hospital EDs and ensure they're available to respond to the most urgent cases."
