CHAOS, CRISIS & CANCELLATIONS
Clogged corridors, bed shortages and ballooning surgical waitlists were behind 5,143 elective surgery cancellations in public hospitals across Queensland last year, in a devastating setback for patients caught up in the Queensland Health Crisis.
The health statistics obtained by the LNP Opposition via a Parliamentary Question on Notice also revealed 705 surgeries were also cancelled in the first two months of this year.
Shadow Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Ros Bates said the Palaszczuk-Miles Government had failed to fix the Queensland Health Crisis they created.
“Queensland Public Hospitals were forced to cancel more than 5,000 surgeries last year because of Labor’s broken system,” Ms Bates said.
“These aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet, these are Queenslanders desperate for cataracts or knee surgery or a hip replacement.
“After three terms in office, the Palaszczuk-Miles Government has stopped listening to Queenslanders.
“These thousands of cancellations were not the fault of our hardworking doctors and nurses who have worked themselves to the brink of exhaustion.
“As a nurse and former hospital administrator, I know how heartbreaking it is for patients to learn their surgery has been cancelled, often due to chronic bed shortages. It’s frustrating for patients, their families and hospital staff.
“Our world-class clinicians are working extremely hard in a system that is broken, because the State Labor Government has failed to properly plan and resource our hospitals.
“All Queenslanders deserve a world class health system no matter where they live.
“The LNP has put solutions on the table to help heal the Queensland Health Crisis, including better resources, better triaging, sharing data in real-time and putting doctors and nurses back in charge to improve patient care.
“Only the LNP has the right priorities for Queensland’s future and that includes easier access to health services.”
