QUEENSLANDERS who have called triple zero for an ambulance are waiting hours before it arrives, in another sign the Palaszczuk Government’s health crisis is getting worse.
New Palaszczuk Government figures released in Parliament have revealed the extraordinary wait times from April to June this year.
The longest pending cases for Code 1 and Code 2 patients (in hours) across the state include:
· 68.4 hours in the Sunshine Coast/Wide Bay region
· 48.8 hours in the Sunshine Coast/Wide Bay region
· 24.8 hours in Metro-North HHS
· 23.6 hours in Metro-South HHS
· 17.5 hours on the Darling Downs/South West region
· 13.2 hours on the Gold Coast
· 11.5 hours on in Central Queensland
· 10.9 hours in the Far North
Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates said it’s unacceptable that some patients were literally waiting days to receive the care they need.
“This is further evidence that Queensland Health is in crisis,” Ms Bates said.
“Although some of these patients are waiting for a transfer, it means beds are blocked in our hospitals which goes to the heart of the Queensland Health Crisis.
“These are all category 1 and 2 cases and time matters.
“The Premier must listen and sack embattled Health Minister Yvette D’Ath.
“The Labor Government inherited ambulance ramping at 15% in 2015, it’s now 46%, the worst in the nation.
“Bed block is back, ambulance bypass has returned, elective surgery waitlists have blown out, emergency departments are packed and the shocking mismanagement of the DNA Forensics Lab and Mackay obstetrics unit.
“As a nurse and former hospital administrator, I know how stressful it is for my colleagues on the frontline.
“My message to the paramedics is simple. We respect you, we support you and we value the job you do.
“All Queenslanders deserve a world class health system, no matter where they live.”