Community concerns about the Queensland Health Crisis have been laid bare in Caboolture, with dozens of locals attending the LNP Opposition’s 33rd Queensland Health Crisis Town Hall this morning.
It’s the second time Caboolture has hosted the event, after Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli and Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates met with locals at the Caboolture Showgrounds for the first time nearly two years ago.
Mr Crisafulli said the stories from Caboolture patients and their families today were deeply moving.
“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 community to help heal the Queensland Health Crisis,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“Our first Town Hall in 2021 at Caboolture was the cornerstone for the Opposition to expand the format and listen to more Queenslanders in cities and towns across the State.
“It was made clear today the Health Crisis in Caboolture hasn’t improved.
“This isn’t the fault of our dedicated doctors, nurses, paramedics and allied health professionals at Caboolture Hospital.
“These dedicated men and women are doing a remarkable job but have been let down by the chaos and crisis within the Palaszczuk Labor Government.
“Today we promised the people of Caboolture that we will again take their stories to the Queensland Parliament and together we will continue our fight for better resources, better triaging, sharing data in real time and putting doctors and nurses back in charge to improve patient care.”
2023 March quarterly data – Caboolture Hospital
- 46% ambulance ramping
- 33% of Emergency Department patients aren’t seen on time
- 390 patients on the elective surgery waitlist
- 3799 patients waiting to see a specialist
- 8 hour 55 minute wait for a patient in the ED waiting room
Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates said the health crisis at Caboolture Hospital took another turn after the Palaszczuk Labor Government announced yet another review at the hospital.
Health Minister Fentiman has so far refused to release the terms of reference for the review.
“Patient care must always be the top priority,” Ms Bates said.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government needs to be open and transparent with the people of Caboolture about the true state of their hospital.
“Health Minister Shannon Fentiman is attempting to avoid accountability.
“Instead of being open and transparent with Queenslanders, she is refusing to release monthly ambulance ramping data.
“When she became Health Minister, she promised she would do things differently.
“Instead of swanning around Queensland on a government jet with her photographer, she must listen to these Queenslanders and urgently address the issues that have plagued Caboolture Hospital.
“We want to thank the locals who attended our Health Crisis Town Hall today.
“We will keep fighting.
“After three terms, eight years and four Health Ministers, the Palaszczuk Labor Government has stopped listening to Queenslanders.
“Caboolture and Queenslanders deserve better.”
