THE Palaszczuk Labor Government’s Health Minister has serious questions to answer following the LNP’s Opposition’s 32nd Queensland Health Crisis Town Hall in Cooktown.
The chaos and crisis of the Palaszczuk Labor Government has seen maternity services in the Far North Queensland community placed on ‘bypass’ for close to 18 months.
Today local mothers said the closure was forcing an increase in higher-risk home births and meant many pregnant women who live in the Far-North’s indigenous communities were no longer travelling to Cooktown.
The Health Minister must answer the following questions:
• Does the Palaszczuk Labor Government plan on returning maternity services to Cooktown and why haven’t they been restored?
• What is being done in the interim to ensure the safety of mothers and babies?
• What actions has the Health Minister taken since concerns were raised about the future of the Cairns Private Hospital’s maternity ward?
Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli said Queenslanders deserved a world class health system no matter where they live.
“Today we listened to local patients and health professionals from Cooktown and across the region,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“We heard how the closure of maternity services is impacting this community.
“For this crisis to drag on for almost 18 months is simply unacceptable.
“It’s clear the chaos and crisis of the Palaszczuk Government is resulting in service delivery failures in Cooktown and across the state.
“We promise to raise these issues on the floor of Parliament.
“We’ll keep holding the Queensland Health Crisis Town Halls across the state until all Queenslanders get the health system they deserve.”