LNP Shadow Health Minister and nurse Ros Bates has slammed Minister for Health, Steven Miles for continuing to play politics with the Sunshine Coast health system.
“Sunshine Coast health services are bursting at the seams, meanwhile Labor’s Health Minister has delayed 150 additional public beds for the Sunshine Coast, and lied about it,” Ms Bates said.
“Minister Miles was caught out in another lie over Labor’s delay of stage 2 of the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, blaming the delay on a typo in a government factsheet.
“The Nambour Hospital redevelopment is also three years late and should have been opened this year.
“The truth is that he isn’t across his brief and Annastacia Palaszczuk should sack him.
“It’s yet another example of Steven Miles putting politics ahead of better patient care.”
Ms Bates said the government’s own statistics show that ambulance ramping and emergency wait-times at Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH) and the Nambour Hospital are some of the worst in the state:
- SCUH – 30% of ambulance ramping, 32% of ED patients not seen within clinically recommended times
- Nambour – 16% of ambulance ramping and 26% of ED patients not seen within clinically recommended times
“With a growing population, these figures show that Sunshine Coast residents need for more beds now.
“These vitally important upgrades need to be fast tracked not delayed.
“Sadly it’s patients, hardworking hospital staff and paramedics who are suffering while Labor play politics with our health system.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk is wasting taxpayers money renaming hospitals rather than providing the world class public health system that Sunshine Coast residents deserve.”