MATERNITY CRISIS DEEPENS UNDER LABOR

HEALTH MINISTER FORCED TO ADMIT SERVICE FAILURES

Bombshell revelations have exposed the Queensland Maternity Crisis is deepening under the Palaszczuk-Miles Labor Government.

Shockingly, in Question Time today, the Health Minister confirmed multiple maternity services have been placed on bypass or had their services downgraded in the past year, including:

• ​Beaudesert Hospital bypassed almost every week across December, January and February.
• Ingham Hospital bypassed for two weeks in September, again three times in October and a further three times in February.
• Ayr Hospital bypassed on three occasions between September and February.
• Gold Coast University Hospital maternity services were downgraded on four occasions in January and February, with complex births sent to other hospitals.

Additionally, the Health Minister confirmed Biloela Hospital’s surgical theatres are not up to current safety standards and would not be able to deliver complex births even if staffed, despite being on “bypass” since August 2022.

​Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates said Queensland families were paying the price of a decade of Labor’s chaos and crisis.

“Queensland women should be able to give birth when, where and how they want, but haven’t been able to do that on Labor’s watch,” Ms Bates said.

“Today Queenslanders have discovered the Queensland Maternity Crisis is much deeper than Shannon Fentiman has ever told us.

“Why is it so difficult for the Health Minister to be up-front with Queenslanders?

“The Queensland Maternity Crisis will only get worse, the longer Labor is in power.

“Shannon Fentiman has let down Queensland women and families for too long.

“The only way to heal the health system is to change the government, because only the LNP has the Right Priorities for Queensland’s Future, including easier access to health services.

“Another priority for the LNP will be reopening maternity services across Queensland.”