PATIENTS have been forced to wait more than 24 hours in the Emergency Department (ED) at Gold Coast University Hospital and Robina Hospital.
Explosive new documents have uncovered the dire state of the Queensland Health Crisis and the toll it has taken on patients and frontline staff so far this year.
5,841 Queenslanders spent more than 24 hours in EDs between February and May this year.
The staggering number is an increase of more than 1,000 patients from the previous four-month period.
On the Gold Coast more than 350 patients have suffered through the marathon wait so far this year.
Shadow Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Ros Bates said Health Minister Shannon Fentiman wanted to keep the information secret from Queenslanders, before relenting to the pressure from the State Opposition.
“We have world class doctors, nurses, paramedics and allied health professionals in Queensland who are being let down by the chaos and crisis of the Palaszczuk Labor Government,” Ms Bates said.
“These figures are disturbing and there are no signs of it stopping.”
“Emergency departments aren’t waiting bays. Hospital corridors aren’t treatment rooms.
“The State Government has failed to properly plan, resource and run our health system since they took power eight years ago.
“In 2015 ambulance ramping was 15%, Anna Bligh called Queensland Health a basket case when ramping was 30% and now ramping is the worst in the nation at 43%.
“Queenslanders deserve to know how their local hospital is performing
“The Health Minister continues to downplay the Queensland Health Crisis, but these figures show how dire the situation in our emergency departments have become.
“As a nurse and former hospital administrator, I know how detrimental it can be for patients to stay in an Emergency Department that long.
“My message to frontline staff is simple.
“We thank you, we respect you and we value the job you do.”