The State Government must explain to Queenslanders why it has failed to properly resource elective surgeries in our hospitals.
Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli said the fact the State Government has cancelled elective surgeries so soon after the border re-opened is a symptom of a health system already in crisis.
“If the State Government had listened to health workers, properly planned for the future and understood how to run a health system we wouldn’t see surgeries being cancelled,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“I really feel for those Queenslanders who will now forego life changing surgery due to the State Government’s inability to properly manage the health system.
“This has the potential to affect over 300,000 Queenslanders.
“The health system has been sliding into crisis for the last 7 years and now at a time we really need the health system to be rock solid, Queenslanders are paying the price.
“I really feel for the health workers as well who are holding our hospitals together right now.”
Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates said the State Government must start listening to the concerns of allied health workers, doctors, nurses and patients.
“Make no mistake our health system was in crisis before we had ever even heard of COVID-19.
“The State Government can’t use a virus to mask its own failings.
“The LNP will continue to fight hard on behalf of Queenslanders to fix the health crisis.
“That is why we have put solutions on the table like localising decision making to empower the frontline, better triaging, more beds and releasing hospital data in real time.
“Queenslanders expect far better than what they are getting from this government.”
There are currently 57,343 people on the elective surgery waiting list in Queensland and another 245,393 people on the waiting list for the waiting list (special outpatient).*
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* http://www.performance.health.qld.gov.au/Hospital/ElectiveSurgery/99999