MATERNITY services bypass and declining specialist services are expected to be top of the agenda at the LNP’s Queensland Health Crisis Town Hall in Mareeba this month.

The event will be the 34th Queensland Health Crisis Town Hall held across Queensland, designed to hear the concerns and experiences of Queenslanders with the health system.

The Mareeba event on September 21 follows recent town halls across the Far North, including in Cooktown and Cairns.

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli said Queenslanders deserved a world-class health system no matter where they lived and Mareeba residents had been failed by the Palaszczuk Government.

“The Mareeba community deserves access to reliable maternity and specialist services, not the declining services they’ve seen under this Government,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“Just weeks ago, it was revealed Mareeba Hospital maternity services were bypassed nine times in a year, leaving families in the lurch.

“Mareeba residents are also sharing their concerns access to specialists is deteriorating with more people forced to travel to Cairns for basic treatment.

“Our commitment is to take the stories from Mareeba straight to the floor of Parliament House to demand action and change.

“No community should be forgotten in the chaos and crisis of this Government.”

Shadow Minister for Health and Registered Nurse Ros Bates said the Mareeba Health Crisis Town Hall was an opportunity for residents to share their first-hand experiences.

“When we started the Health Crisis Town Halls we promised to take them right across Queensland and we’re proud to be coming to Mareeba this month,” Ms Bates said.

“Putting the spotlight on health services in local communities has delivered some wins along the way, including crucial specialist appointments, or even surgeries after years of delays.

“We’ll be putting our solutions on the table including more resources, better triaging, real-time data and putting doctors and nurses back in charge.”

The Mareeba Health Crisis Town Hall will be held on the 21st September at 10am, at the Jackaroo Motel (340 Byrnes St, Mareeba).

Registrations are essential and available at: https://www.trybooking.com/CLJEI