DOZENS of patients and health professionals have called for change and voiced their desires for better hospital services at the 35th Queensland Health Crisis Town Hall in North Brisbane.
Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli and Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates listened to locals who attended from across the region.
Skyrocketing ambulance ramping rates and long waiting times for elective surgery were among the key issues raised by attendees.
The Opposition Leader vowed to take today’s stories to the floor of State Parliament.
“It takes enormous bravery for someone to reveal their private health battles in a room full of strangers, but this demonstrates the determination of this Brisbane community to help heal the Queensland Health Crisis,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“Today’s Town Hall shows what happens when governments fail to plan for a growing region and drift from chaos to crisis instead.
“The stories we heard today put a human face to the horror statistics that show one in two ambulances are now ramped at Prince Charles Hospital.
“Residents aren’t angry at the paramedics or doctors and nurses.
“They’re frustrated by a State Government that’s failed to plan and deliver for too long.
“The LNP has put health solutions on the table to heal the Queensland Health Crisis including better resources, better triaging, sharing data in real-time and putting doctors and nurses back in charge to improve patient care.
“We’ll take today’s stories to Parliament and use them to drive our campaign for action and change.”
Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates said the people of North Brisbane deserved better.
“The devastating consequences that out-of-control ambulance ramping can have on families was laid bare at today’s Town Hall,” Ms Bates said.
“Too many patients are waiting too long on hospital ramps and for surgery in Brisbane’s north but the Health Minister is nowhere to be seen.
“Instead of recycling old announcements, Shannon Fentiman must get to communities like Strathpine and start listening.
“Right now too many Queenslanders are being let down by a Labor Government who’s more focused on photo-ops and fudging figures than planning for our growing regions”.