The Queensland Health Crisis is taking a heavy toll on paramedics across regional Queensland, with new government data showing the staggering amount of overtime hours being taken and the growing cost of meal allowances.
Responding to a Question on Notice from the LNP, state government statistics have revealed more than 24,000 hours of overtime was taken in the 2020-21 financial year and meal allowances reached one million dollars in Cairns and the Hinterland.
Central Queensland, Wide Bay and the Darling Downs topped more than half a million dollars in meal allowances, while the Sunshine Coast had a whopping $3,992,336 worth of meal payments.
The overtime hours are just as concerning, with the Sunshine Coast ambos working more than 93,000 overtime hours in the last financial year, the most in regional Queensland, followed by Cairns with 24,376.
Shadow Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Ros Bates said our frontline staff are absolutely exhausted.
“Queensland’s Health system is sick,” Ms Bates said.
“This is yet another symptom of the Queensland Health crisis.
“Our paramedics are stuck waiting on hospital ramps and they’re missing their break times.
“It’s costing taxpayers millions of dollars a year, but worse, it’s leaving our paramedics exhausted and burnt out.
“Labor is losing control of the health system.
“As a nurse and former hospital administrator, I know how stressful it is for our hard working paramedics who are overworked and under-resourced.
“The LNP has put solutions on the table including more beds, improved triaging, empowering local hospital boards and introducing real time data monitoring for our emergency departments.
“The embattled Health Minister is more interested in trying to ban the LNP from twitter than actually doing her job.
“Our paramedics deserve more respect and support from the state government.”
Source: Question on Notice, Queensland Government - https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableoffice/questionsanswers/2021/1055-2021.pdf
