THE shortage of beds, hospital delays and excessive waiting lists for specialist care dominated the 27th Queensland Health Crisis Town Hall in Dalby hosted by the Opposition on Saturday.
Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli was joined by Member for Warrego Ann Leahy, Member for Condamine Pat Weir and Member for Callide Bryson Head at the Town Hall.
More than 50 locals packed the Dalby Leagues Club and shared their experiences with the health system.
Mr Crisafulli said the stories shared by locals would be taken straight to the floor of Parliament House.
“It takes a lot of bravery for people to stand up and share stories about their health,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“I want to thank everyone who came along to the Dalby Leagues Club.
“This was our 27th Queensland Health Crisis Town Hall and we’ll keep hosting these meetings and we’ll keep listening to all Queenslanders and their experiences with the health system.
“After three terms in office, we know the State Government has given up on listening to Queenslanders.
“We will continue to shine a light on the problems facing patients and health professionals until the State Government admits its failures and accepts responsibility for the health crisis and puts genuine and immediate solutions on the table.”
Member for Warrego Ann Leahy said as frontline staff struggled under the pressure of a broken system, the State Government was making their job more difficult.
“They’ve publicly said they’re doing all they can to fix the health system, but behind closed doors they’re not helping our already overstretched hospitals at all,” she said.
“We don’t have enough beds, the waiting lists are blowing out every year and our communities can’t get the care they need.”
Member for Condamine Pat Weir said locals were faced with the same issues in his local area.
“For a region our size not to have the resources it needs, it proves how serious and unacceptable the situation is,” he said.
“This government must start listening and they must act.”
Member for Callide Bryson Head said the issues raised at Dalby mimicked what he’d heard from locals at other regional centres in his electorate.
“There are ways the Palaszczuk Government can help heal the health crisis now,” he said.
“The LNP has had solutions on the table for months including more beds, improving triaging, real time data monitoring and giving power back to local doctors and nurses.
“All Queenslanders deserve a world-class health system no matter where they live.
“Sadly, that’s not the case for Queenslanders in my electorate.”
Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates said the hard-working doctors, nurses and allied health professionals were working themselves to exhaustion.
“As a nurse and former hospital administrator, I know how stressful it is for my colleagues on the front line,” Ms Bates said.
“My message to them is simple. We respect you, we value you, and we thank you for what you do.
“As a result of poor planning, the State Government has failed to increase the number of beds at hospitals across the state and poor planning means more and more Queenslanders are waiting longer for care.
“Queenslanders can no longer trust this Health Minister or the Palaszczuk Government.
“They deserve so much better.”