Statement from Shadow Health Minister John-Paul Langbroek – report reveals 16 Hospital and Health Services fell into the red

Today’s Auditor-General report reveals the combined budgets of the 16 Hospital and Health Services fell into the red by $46 million in 2015/16 – the worst since they were established.

The Auditor-General found HHSs hired an extra 1000 non-frontline staff (nine percent increase on the previous year) compared to the 3300 frontline staff (6 percent increase) during 2015/16.

Labor is building an army of health bureaucrats that has hit the budget bottom line of Hospital and Health Services across Queensland.

Today’s report confirms Cairns is not alone with at least three HHSs reporting signs of financial stress.

Frontline services will have to be cut in 2016/17 as HHSs are forced to find more than $20.5 million in savings thanks to the QNU-Labor deal to implement nurse-to-patient ratios.

According to the Auditor-General, nine HHSs have identified that they will collectively employ an additional 172 FTE nurses in 2016/17 to satisfy their nurse-to-patient ratio.

Labor’s do-nothing Health Minister Cameron Dick must explain how he’s allowed frontline Hospital and Health Services across Queensland to be driven into the ground.