SHOCKING new figures have revealed hundreds of Queenslanders are waiting over 24 hours in emergency departments in hospitals across the state.
A Parliamentary Question on Notice by the Opposition shows there were 6,979 stays in EDs that lasted more than an entire day from 1 June to 30 September this year.
In June, 1,986 patients waited more than 24 hours in the Emergency Department.
A further 2,068 patients faced the same fate in July.
Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli said the statistics laid bare the shocking extent of bed block in Queensland hospitals.
“These numbers are a symptom of a system in crisis,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“They are a result of the Palaszczuk Government failing to plan and act for nearly eight years.
“The Premier and her Health Minister must start listening to our solutions or more Queenslanders will find themselves waiting more than a day just to find a bed in a ward.
“Queenslanders deserve so much better.”
Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates said the numbers were startling.
“Queenslanders are spending too much time in our Emergency Departments because our hospitals are full,” Ms Bates said.
“When an ED Bed is occupied for over 24 hours, it means there isn’t a bed for our hardworking paramedics to offload their patient.
“It’s clear the Palaszczuk Government is losing control of the Health System.
“It’s yet another reason why the Premier has no option but to sack her embattled Health Minister.”