Minister must commit to a reopening date for Biloela full maternity services
Today marks 400 days since the Labor Government slammed the doors shut on maternity services in Biloela, forcing mothers in labour to travel two hours to deliver their babies.
Despite more than a year passing, the Health Minister is refusing to reveal when, or even if, full maternity services will be restored to Biloela.
Today the LNP is calling on the Minister to reveal a reopening date for full maternity services at Biloela Hospital.
Shadow Health Minister and Registered Nurse Ros Bates said Labor couldn’t be trusted on delivering the world-class health services Queenslanders deserve and need.
“Labor’s Maternity Crisis runs far deeper than they admit and they’ve stopped listening to the families pleading for their local maternity services to reopen,” Ms Bates said.
“Labor has already closed 37 maternity services and others are hanging on by a thread, this is far from the world-class health system regional Queenslanders deserve.
“Such is the chaos and crisis of this Government mothers in Biloela are still waiting for answers 400 days after their local maternity service was bypassed.”
Member for Callide, Bryson Head, said the Biloela community was demanding action and had a strong message the Government must listen to.
“We’ve seen over 3,200 people sign the petition to bring maternity services back to Biloela, and yet there has been no action from the Palaszczuk Labor Government,” Mr Head said.
“From listening to mothers and expectant mothers’ stories, there’s no denying the importance of maternity services in our rural towns.
“To know that it’s been 400 days since the Biloela maternity ward was put on bypass is devastating. The Labor Government has been ignoring cries for change since the bypass began and those cries have only grown stronger.
“This bypass is a risk to mothers, a risk to babies and a blow to young couples who want to call this community home.
“Bring back our local maternity services and put an end to more atrocious bypass milestones by signing the petition.”
