Kingaroy to host the LNP’s 20th Health Crisis Town Hall

KINGAROY’S ailing health services will be the focus of the LNP’s 20th Queensland Health Crisis Town Hall next month.

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli will be joined by Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates and Nanango MP Deb Frecklington to hear firsthand the experiences of Kingaroy locals with their region’s healthcare services.

Ms Frecklington said the local health system had been struggling for years with staff shortages and the withdrawal of critical healthcare services.

“At various times, the Kingaroy Hospital has needed dozens more staff to cope with local demand while critical services such as palliative care at Murgon have been removed,” she said.

“These problems existed long before Covid and the people of Kingaroy and neighbouring areas just want the State Government to fix it.”

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli said the LNP would take the personal experiences and stories of locals straight to the floor of Parliament House to demand action and change.

“Our first Queensland Health Crisis Town Hall was held in Mt Gravatt in June last year,” he said.

“Since then, we’ve held town halls from Cairns to Mt Isa, Bundaberg, Ipswich and the Gold Coast to name a few.

“We’ve had some wins along the way, including locals finally getting a crucial specialist appointment, or even surgery after years of delays.

“We’re committed to supporting these communities and backing their fight for better healthcare services.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates said the LNP had put solutions on the table including more beds, better triage and giving power back to the frontline staff to make better decisions to improve patient care.

Ms Bates said doctors, nurses, paramedics, and allied healthcare workers were exhausted and deserved more respect.

“As a nurse and former hospital administrator, I know how stressful it can get for the staff who are doing everything they can to keep our hospitals running,’ Ms Bates said.

“The embattled Health Minister doesn’t have a plan to fix it.

“What has this State Government been doing for the last seven years to improve our hospitals?

Ms Frecklington said the State Government was losing control of the health system.

“The entire region is suffering because of the lack of health services,” she said.

“We need more investment in mental health, palliative care and pediatrician services.

“Labor simply does not have a plan to fix regional health.

“Instead, we have a $92 million hospital in Kingaroy that was supposed to be $62 million and it’s broken.

“It floods, the doors don’t work, the nurses aren’t supported and they’re severely understaffed.

“It’s led to a crisis in health services for the entire South Burnett region.”

Ms Frecklington said she encouraged everyone in the region to come along and share their stories at the town hall on 9 August.

“We won’t stop fighting for better health care for all Queenslanders.

“Together, I know we can make a difference to fix the ailing healthcare system.”