ANALYSIS of Queensland Health Performance Data proves the number of patients presenting to Emergency Departments has decreased, while ambulance ramping and ED patient delays continue to worsen.

In the first quarter of 2023, 51,000 fewer people presented at Emergency Departments than two years ago, despite claims from the Minister that presentations had grown.

The revelation leaves the Health Minister’s claims in tatters and raises serious questions about why she is misleading Queenslanders.

The numbers, side by side, reveal the truth about the Queensland Health Crisis and show the number of people presenting to Emergency Departments has decreased, while ambulance ramping and patients not seen on-time have grown.

2021 Q1
622,609 ED presentations
40% ambulance ramping
26% of patients not seen on time in EDs

2023 Q1
571,324 ED Presentations
43% ambulance ramping
29% of patients not seen on time in EDs

Shadow Minister for Health Ros Bates said the Health Minister needed to come clean with Queenslanders about what was going in Emergency Departments and what would be done to fix the ramping and delays.

“We are seeing excuses and a blame game from the Health Minister about the Queensland Health Crisis, when what we need is solutions,” Ms Bates said.

“This Minister is trying to mislead Queenslanders about the true state of our health system, to distract from the chaos and crisis of the Palaszczuk Labor Government.

“The numbers don’t back up the Minister’s claims, there are fewer patients presenting to ED than two years ago and meanwhile the Queensland Health Crisis continues to worsen.

“Queenslanders want ambulances to arrive in an emergency and to know they can see an ED doctor without waiting hours on-end.

“Queensland Health is flatlining and we have a Minister who is blaming patients for the problem, when responsibility sits with her.

“What is happening in our hospitals is not the fault of patients, our hospitals are under-staffed, under-resourced and lacking leadership from the Palaszczuk Labor Government.

“This is more of the chaos and crisis we’ve come to expect from the Palaszczuk Labor Government and Queenslanders deserve better.

“The LNP has put health solutions on the table including more beds, better triaging, releasing data in real time and putting doctors and nurses back in charge to improve patient care.”