CLOGGED emergency departments continue to cause long delays for patients across Queensland as the Palaszczuk Labor Government refuses to accept the enormity of the Queensland Health Crisis.
Health figures from the Palaszczuk Labor Government unearthed by a parliamentary Question on Notice shows 1270 patients waited 24 hours or longer in Queensland emergency departments in January 2023, a rise of 254 patients since November last year.
Hospitals in Ipswich, Redlands, Caboolture, Gold Coast, Hervey Bay, Rockhampton, Bundaberg and Townsville recorded some of the longest wait times.
Shadow Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Ros Bates said the health figures should be a wakeup call for the Premier and Health Minister.
“We have world class doctors, nurses and paramedics and allied health professionals in Queensland who are being let down by a broken system and a chaotic Palaszczuk Labor Government,” Ms Bates said.
“These figures are disturbing and there are no signs of it stopping.
“Emergency departments aren’t waiting bays. Hospital corridors aren’t rooms.
“The State Government has failed to properly plan, resource and run our health system since they took power eight years ago.
“In 2015 ambulance ramping was 15%, Anna Bligh called Queensland Health a basket case when ramping was 30% and now ramping is the worst in the nation at 41%.
“The LNP has put solutions on the table including more resources, improving triaging, real time data monitoring and giving power back to local doctors and nurses who know what health services their community needs.
“Queenslanders deserve to know how their local hospital is performing
“The Health Minister continues to downplay the Queensland Health Crisis, but these figures show how dire the situation in our emergency departments have become.
“More and more people are waiting longer for care.
“As a nurse and former hospital administrator, I know how detrimental it can be for patients to stay in an Emergency Department that long.
“My message to frontline staff is simple.
“We thank you, we respect you and we value the job you do.
“All Queenslanders deserve a world class health system no matter where they live.”