SHADOW Health Minister Ros Bates today met with staff at Hervey Bay Hospital following the release of a scathing report into workplace culture, waitlist blowouts, 38% ambulance ramping and a Health Minister missing in action during the Queensland Health Crisis.

The latest State Government/Queensland Health statistics revealed the Specialist Outpatient Waiting List (the waiting-list-for-the-waiting list) in the Wide Bay Health and Hospital Service continued to rise.

The waitlist increased by 18% at Bundaberg Hospital, 14% in Hervey Bay and 10% at Maryborough Hospital in just 12 months.

Ms Bates said the Queensland Health Crisis was real and Wide Bay patients are paying the price for the chaos and crisis within the Palaszczuk Labor Government.

“These aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet,” Ms Bates said.

“These are Wide Bay patients stuck on a waitlist for critical appointments with a cardiologist or an orthopaedic surgeon.

“As a registered nurse and former Hospital Administrator, I know how frustrating and stressful it is for patients who feel like they’re languishing on a waitlist for years.

“The Queensland Health Crisis is real. Shannon Fentiman has failed to acknowledge it or take any responsibility for it.

“After nearly nine years and four Health Ministers the Palaszczuk Labor Government hasn’t planned properly.

“Queenslanders can’t trust Shannon Fentiman to fix the Queensland Health Crisis that the Labor Government created.

“The Palaszczuk Government inherited a ramping rate of 15%, but now it’s the worst in the country at 43%.

“When will Labor get ambulance ramping back to 15%?”

“Today, I met with our hardworking staff at the Queensland Ambulance Service.

“These dedicated men and women didn’t sign up to this profession to spend an entire shift in the back of a ramped ambulance, while other calls go unanswered from Queenslanders in need.”

LNP Candidate for Hervey Bay David Lee said frontline staff at Hervey Bay Hospital have done a remarkable job to keep the health system on the rails.

“The local doctors, nurses and allied health professionals are working around the clock to ensure the best possible care for patients,” Mr Lee said.

“For too long they’ve been let down by this tired third-term government.

“The Palaszczuk Labor Government has given up on regional Queensland.”

LNP Candidate for Maryborough John Barounis said the LNP has the right priorities for Queensland’s future.

“Easier access to health services is a priority for the LNP because it’s a priority for Queenslanders,” Mr Barounis said.

“Wide Bay and Fraser Coast patients deserve a world class health system they can rely on.”

LNP Candidate for Bundaberg Bree Watson said the Palaszczuk Government promised a Level 5 hospital in Bundaberg at the last election.

“Bundaberg residents feel betrayed,” Ms Watson said.

“Wide Bay residents can’t trust this government to deliver their promises to improve healthcare.”