Emergency waits hit 14hrs

Queenslanders left waiting in overflowing Emergency Departments
Queensland Health Crisis continues to get worse under Labor

Alarming new data has revealed Queenslanders spent up to 14 hours languishing in Emergency Departments waiting to see a doctor in the first quarter of 2024.

The damning data, revealed in a Question on Notice, is a window into how dire the Queensland Health Crisis has become under the Palaszczuk-Miles Labor Government.

Queenslanders waited longer than eight hours in ED waiting rooms at 14 of the state’s public hospitals between December and March, including more than 14 hours at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane.

Some of the longest waits endured by Queenslanders in public hospitals between December 2023 and March 2024 include:

  • 14 hrs and 6 mins at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in February
  • 12 hrs and 57 mins at the Bundaberg Hospital in February
  • 12 hrs and 19 mins at the Bundaberg Hospital in January
  • 11 hrs and 24 mins at Bundaberg Hospital in February
  • 11 hrs and 23 mins at Redland Hospital in March
  • 10 hrs and 34 mins at the Logan Hospital in March
  • 9 hrs and 58 mins at Ipswich Hospital in February
  • 9 hrs and 27 mins at the Redcliffe Hospital in December
  • 9 hrs and 19 mins at the Maryborough Hospital in February

Shadow Health Minister and Registered Nurse Ros Bates said Labor was out of solutions and couldn’t be trusted to heal the Queensland Health Crisis.“Queenslanders are sick of Labor’s broken promises, false hope, missed targets and lack of accountability that’s left our health system languishing on life-support,” Ms Bates said.

“They just want to be able to get the help they need, when they need it, not be left waiting for hours on end.

“An overflowing ED waiting room is no place for unwell and injured Queenslanders to be left sitting for more than 12 hours, but under Labor this is happening more and more often.

“This is the price Queenslanders are paying for Labor’s constant state of chaos and crisis.

“The reality is it’s not safe, it shouldn’t happen and it must stop, only the LNP will heal the Health Crisis.

“This is not the fault of our world-class doctors and nurses, they’ve been let down by a broken system that hasn’t been properly resourced or run.

“Not only does Queensland have the worst ambulance ramping in the nation at 45.5%, Queenslanders are regularly left sitting in ED waiting rooms for 12 or more hours without getting the help they need.

“After a decade in power, Labor can’t be trusted on health, they’re too busy trying to hide the data, change the metrics and keep Queenslanders in the dark than heal the Health Crisis.

“Labor only cares about the next four months and they have no plan for the next four years to heal the Health Crisis.

“Only the LNP has the Right Priorities for Queensland’s Future, including easier access to health services.”